Equalizing the pay of all ITV employees in the Valencian Community following the reversal of the service has been one of the biggest headaches for Management over the last year. So much so that the problem, which caused inspectors to threaten to go on strike in the autonomous region at different times in 2023, seemed to have finally been resolved with the agreement signed between the Ministry of Industry and the unions. It was November when homogenization would be achieved. However, reliable sources consulted by this newspaper assure that the situation has not yet been resolved. The reason for this can be nothing other than the lack of at least one document required to ensure this equality in pricing.
This is a statement that contradicts the messages that the district run by Nuria Montes gave in mid-December, which contradicted the statement that the agreement was “approved” after being approved by both the Generalitat General Counsel and the General Counsel. As well as the Autonomous Secretariat of Finance and the General Directorate of Public Services. In addition, Ministry sources on this issue yesterday emphasized that “all necessary documents” are available for equalization. “Everything is there,” they add.
However, the mentioned reliable sources contradict this version and emphasize that at least one of the important reports prepared by the mentioned institutional bodies today is “still not positive”. And if this does not happen, homogenization – a priori – cannot be legally achieved.
This is what already happened in the first half of 2023, when the overall management of Sitval was in the hands of Botànic, represented in the figure of Josep Albert (Compromís). At that time, a salary agreement was also made with the unions. However, this was done against time and in the weeks before regional elections in May and without prior relevant reports, which led to the agreement eventually being declared invalid.
Therefore, the new Management in the hands of the PP had to renegotiate with the workers to finally reach a valid agreement, which seems to have been closed last year. However, as the mentioned sources pointed out to this newspaper, this is not the case at the moment. And time is not on our side.
Repair a breach
Because, as stated in the agreement, the retroactive application of this comparison already to June 1, 2023 should be appreciated in the payroll for this January. Not for nothing, after 25 years of the ITV service in private hands, the differences in pay for the same position at one station or another are quite large. As various union sources explained at the time, employees working at ITV in Alicante were paid around 40% less than their counterparts in Castellón and Valencia (about 700 euros less on average). Now, if the agreement cannot be implemented, this difference must remain a reality.
Six stations in the community, without online appointments
Online dating to bypass ITV continues to cause problems on some Valencian stations. Up to six facilities to date (Alicante, Benidorm, Ondara, Elche, Catarroja and in the coming months.) In addition, five other stations (Castellón, Vila-Real, Alzira, Gandia and Sagunt) will not offer available space on the website until March, while Massalfassar and Ontinyent and eight other stations are displaying “No vacancy” signs until February. These include limiting these appointments to the last week of next month.