During the dining strike, Pedrosa has asked for respect for students taking food from outside if the school allows it

The Minister of Education of the Basque Government, Begoña Pedrosa, has said that students can bring food from outside to school in the face of "exceptional situations", "if the school so decides", and has called for respect for it, and has urged trade unions and companies "not to rise from the table and reach an agreement" to resolve the conflict.

After three daysof strike last weekby school canteen workers to demand an improvement in working conditions, the Education Counsellor has asked that the previous situation not be repeated after the call for 10, 11 and 12 March, when in some schools students were deprived of food taken from their homes. 

Asked if food can be taken to school for the duration of the strikes, he explained that in exceptional circumstances, the school management team could allow families to "bring food from outside, like last week."

"And that has to be respected. The important thing is that these kids, if the management team has wanted it, have the opportunity to eat the sandwich or have food, because that's what the school has decided," he said.

Begoña Pedrosa has pointed out that the position of the Basque Government is "the position taken by the management team" of each school and has stated that they know that in these cases they have given permission to "bring the sandwich to the classroom." "And I think we are no one to violate that right," she said.

On the other hand, with regard to the negotiations between the unions and the company providing the service, he has assured that it is up to both parties to 'reach an agreement', which he has demanded.

He said, "There's a basis for that." What we're asking is that they don't get off the table until we get an agreement. We want them to come to an agreement and we want them to be able to give all families that certainty next week so they can have a dining room. "

He points out that in the face of the change of regulations demanded by the unions on child ratios per monitor, the Department is always "open to dialogue and negotiation". He adds that "these are things that are on the table and have already been discussed".

"The unions know the issue and we really want to reach an agreement, that's what we're asking for," Pedrosa said.