Protests and salary equalization drive change for ITV Sitval staff in Valencia
Work groups responsible for managing the Sitval public service in the Valencian Community initiated a protest calendar this Friday, demanding that the salary equalization agreement be fully implemented. The accord was signed with the Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism Department last November. Unions CC OO and UGT announce a 24 hour strike that will affect all ITV stations across the Alicante province, with mobilizations intensifying from next Tuesday.
The unemployment actions will recur every Tuesday and Thursday until the previously agreed sums are paid, according to union statements. Concurrently, a separate front involving a concentration program began this week, opening with a protest in front of the Ministry of Finance. The protesters argue that gains promised for the Sitval workforce have not been applied yet. They plan to rally again on Tuesday the 13th in front of the Innovation Department in Valencia, move to Alicante on the 20th at Plaza Gabriel Miró, and conclude on the 21st in front of the Palau de la Generalitat in Valencia city.
Workshops are being organized and ITV staff are urged to schedule appointments and follow their own lines to press for solutions.
If a resolution remains elusive, CC OO and UGT intend to extend the strike actions across the Valencian Community starting the 27th, widening the impact if necessary.
Same job, different salary
The protests center on delays in salary equalization within the Sitval template. The issue traces back to a policy decision by the previous Generalitat government to end the special franchise model and return ITV services to the public sector under a new company, Sitval. The new entity absorbed workers from multiple franchises, each with distinct collective agreements. Although all new Sitval employees worked for the same public company, their salaries remained uneven, disproportionately affecting ITV staff in Alicante. The question of who earns the lowest pay remains a focal point for the unions.
Following a mobilization campaign, the unions secured a November agreement in which the department led by Nuria Montes committed to retroactive salary equalization beginning from June of the previous year. Yet difficulties arose in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Sector Department, which asked for new documents to make the measure effective. Until now, the delays prevented workers from receiving back pay or avoidable arrears. The situation also highlighted challenges around backlogged or delayed processes that require urgent attention.
The department headed by Nuria Montes emphasizes ongoing efforts to reconcile the pay scales and bring ITVs’ salaries to parity. Officials say the tasks are being carried out with a focus on practical solutions, acknowledging some problems stem from the rapid return of services to the public sector and the need for clear, continuous communication with unions about progress and obstacles.
Public service coverage and concerns about scheduling
Attention from CC OO and UGT has been centered on Sitval staff showing patience and restraint in maintaining service levels while awaiting promised advances. They stress that failure to fulfill the initial agreement could jeopardize future negotiations and the overall pace of improvements for the Sitval workforce. Unions note that strike days might worsen the strain on ITV scheduling, making free appointments harder to secure. In response, some drivers are waking up early to secure inspections without a prior appointment, indicating a broader impact on public service delivery in the region.
Meanwhile, discussions continue with the company to address limited appointment availability and ongoing implementation issues. The aim remains to restore timely salaries and stable conditions for all Sitval workers, while preserving service quality for the public that relies on ITV inspections across the Valencian Community.