Repair a breach
Equalizing pay for ITV employees across the Valencian Community has been one of management’s toughest challenges over the past year. The issue triggered warnings from inspectors in 2023 and even a risk of strikes, yet sources close to the matter indicated progress when a deal was reached between the Ministry of Industry and the unions. Public descriptions suggested that homogenization would take effect in November. Yet, trusted reports indicate the problem persists due to the absence of at least one key document needed to guarantee price equality.
The statements coming from the district led by Nuria Montes in mid-December seemed to contradict the claim that the agreement was approved after ratification by the Generalitat General Counsel and the General Counsel, along with the Autonomous Secretariat of Finance and the General Directorate of Public Services. Ministry sources reiterated yesterday that all necessary documents are in place for equalization, asserting that everything needed is present.
Nevertheless, the reliable sources behind the scenes dispute this account and warn that at least one important report prepared by those institutional bodies today remains not favorable. Without a positive finding, a legal path to homogenization cannot be opened.
What happened earlier in 2023 is telling. Sitval’s management was under Botànic, with Josep Albert acting as the point person. A salary agreement with the unions was reached then, but it was rushed and occurred in the weeks before regional elections in May, without the necessary reports. The result was that the agreement was eventually declared invalid.
Consequently, the new administration led by the PP had to renegotiate with workers to secure a valid agreement, which seemed to have closed last year. Yet, as noted by insiders, that is not the current reality. Time is not on their side.
Differences that still need fixing
As the agreement states, the retroactive application of the salary comparison would extend to June 1, 2023 and should be reflected in January payrolls. After 25 years of ITV being run by private hands, wage gaps for the same role at different stations remain substantial. Union sources recall that workers in ITV Alicante earned roughly 40 percent less than colleagues in Castellón and Valencia, amounting to about 700 euros on average. If the agreement cannot be implemented, those disparities will continue to stand.
Six stations in the region still without online appointment slots
Online appointment bookings to bypass ITV access continue to cause friction at several Valencian stations. Up to six facilities are affected to date in Alicante, Benidorm, Ondara, Elche, Catarroja, and forthcoming sites. In addition, five other stations Castellón, Vila-Real, Alzira, Gandia, and Sagunto will not offer available slots on the booking site until March. Massalfassar and Ontinyent, along with eight more stations, show no vacancies until February, with some locations limiting appointments to the last week of the upcoming month.
Industry insiders urge that the ongoing booking limitations could hinder the timely implementation of any future salary adjustments and may prolong the unequal pay situation for ITV staff across the Valencian network. Official statements stress that all required steps are being taken, but observers point to the practical impact on workers awaiting resolution.