Andorran Teachers' Union Warns of Strikes Over Flawed Merit Career Reforms

The Public Education Union (SEP) has intensified its criticism of the Andorran government's handling of draft legislation for a merit-based professional career system for public workers, now explicitly warning of potential strikes and mobilisations if changes are not made soon.

SEP general secretary Sergi Esteves described the negotiation process as lacking guarantees, quality, transparency, and formality. He argued that discussions, ongoing since February, did not constitute true negotiation despite government claims of dialogue. Unions received no full documents, meeting minutes, or simulations on reclassifications, and were informed of the final text only after its publication.

Esteves questioned the value of union input, asking whether representatives attended merely to provide ideas that the government could adopt selectively while ignoring concerns. He highlighted the ministry's past reversal on a reclassification regulation after union challenges, suggesting similar issues could arise here, potentially leading to court action.

Key grievances centre on inadequate recognition for interim workers, whose structural service—due to unfilled permanent posts—receives minimal credit in the proposed 30-year career structure. Unions had sought significant weighting for such experience upon securing permanent roles, but the current approach falls short. Esteves warned that these shortcomings harm public service quality, particularly in education.

Implementation details remain unclear, with core elements deferred to a forthcoming regulation that future governments could alter. SEP has yet to review the complete legislative text. In education, around 200 interim staff face job insecurity, and school teams lack resources for required evaluations despite promised software.

The union plans to debate protest actions at its general assembly next month, comparing initial proposals to the final version. Esteves said mobilisations, including strikes, are not ruled out, drawing parallels to past salary disputes. "The desire to fight is there," he noted, amid a sense of accumulated grievances and administrative debt to workers.

SEP remains willing to negotiate but fears rushed approval before the legislature ends, urging amendments via parliamentary groups if needed. The system, part of broader public administration reforms, targets a 2027 rollout via a budget accompaniment law.