Four unions representing Sitval reported the public company would see a definitive end to the strike situation in the Valencian Community. After the Department of Innovation, Trade, Industry and Tourism commits to finalize and sign the required procedures, a framework was sought that would align the salaries of Sitval employees. The focus is on a measure that benefits nearly all of the 400 workers in the Alicante province who earned the lowest wages.
The statement followed a new round of talks. UGT, CC OO, CSIF, and Merger met with Sitval officials and the ministry team to learn that all essential documents had already been sent to the regional Ministry of Finance and the Department of Public Services. This move marks the last step toward implementing an agreement negotiated with the Generalitat’s former leaders and now endorsed by the new Industry team led by Nuria Montes. Sources indicate the council member plans to personally sign and ratify the agreement on Thursday, November 9.
The arrangement will lift the salaries of all employees who joined the company when Sitval assumed the service previously managed by eight private concessionaires across the Valencian Community. Prior to the transfer, pay scales varied among groups, even though workers performed identical duties for the same company.
Those most affected were workers who joined the unions. In the Alicante province, about 400 of Sitval’s new public-company workforce out of roughly 1,100 saw pay disparities of up to 40 percent compared with colleagues doing the same work.
four year plan
As agreed, a balancing plan has been designed to unfold over four years. Salaries for Alicante employees are slated to rise by 30 percent in the first year, with retroactive adjustments dating back to last June. Subsequent years will feature incremental increases until all staff are paid according to their category and reach parity by 2026.
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After overcoming delays that prompted the unions to threaten an indefinite strike that ultimately did not begin, the unions and Sitval management moved to negotiate a specific collective agreement for the company. The inaugural negotiation meeting is scheduled for November 21.