Andorra Union Leader Gabriel Ubach Dies at 62 from Pancreatic Cancer

Gabriel Ubach, the longtime general secretary of Andorra's Unión Sindical d'Andorra (USdA), died on Thursday at the age of 62 at Meritxell Hospital after battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer that had spread to his liver. He had been receiving hospital treatment in recent days.

More than a hundred people attended his funeral on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in the Church of Santa Eulàlia d'Encamp, including family, friends, union colleagues, political figures, and institutional representatives. Archpriest Mossèn Ramon Sàrries of the Valls officiated the service, which followed a morning vigil at the Encamp funeral home. The ceremony highlighted Ubach's commitment to workers' rights, with several floral wreaths from the USdA accompanying the hearse as it departed. Sàrries described Ubach as a determined fighter with a strong personality, citing his 37 years as a customs officer before fully committing to labor advocacy, along with his directness, warmth, dialogue skills, and passion for car racing.

Attendees included Concòrdia leader Cerni Escalé, Partit Socialdemòcrata president Pere Baró, Andorra Endavant representatives Carine Montaner, Noemí Amador, and Marc Monteagudo, Social Affairs Minister Trini Marín, Tourism and Commerce Minister Jordi Torres, Encamp councillor Joan Sans, USdA deputy Joan Torra, Housing union spokesperson Rebeca Bonache, Diversand president Isabella Vargas, USdA lawyer Eduard Coll, opposition figure Maria Àngels Aché, Encamp councillor Andreu Riba, Robert Mauri from the French Co-Prince's office, Taxes and Borders director Carles Ferreira, and Human Rights Institute president Elisa Muxella. Most mourners came from civil society and those close to Ubach.

A trained industrial mechanic, Ubach co-founded the USdA in 2001 from the Associació de Funcionaris de Duana, serving as its public face for over two decades. He campaigned for protections against unfair dismissals, contractual severance, unemployment benefits, May 1 as a public holiday, company committees, collective bargaining, labor reforms, higher wages amid rising housing costs, pensions, and worker rights. Achievements included a 2009 Sunday trading agreement and recent protests over purchasing power. In his final years, he focused on what he called the country's "uncontrolled growth," criticizing real estate speculation, soaring housing prices, and policies under governments led by Xavier Espot that he viewed as neoliberal and prioritizing economic expansion over social and labor rights. He warned that such trends were driving Andorrans and residents from the country after years of contribution.

Tributes came from Head of Government Xavier Espot, Labor Minister Conxita Marsol, Demòcrates' Ladislau Baró, and CEA's Gerard Cadena, who praised his dedication and negotiation skills.

The USdA has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the labor demands Ubach championed for more than 25 years. First secretary and treasurer Joan Torra, previously the union's number two, will now serve as its most visible representative, including in bodies such as the Consell Econòmic i Social. The union is not planning an immediate replacement for Ubach, who has been named honorary general secretary. Torra told Diari d'Andorra that elections will occur when scheduled, and the time for that discussion has not yet arrived.

The USdA expressed profound thanks for condolences from Andorran society and the European Trade Union Confederation, noting Ubach's international recognition for advancing union freedoms, collective bargaining, fair wages, purchasing power, pensions, and labor rights beyond the Principality's borders. It emphasized that the best tribute is to pursue his demands, many of which—centered on the country's uncontrolled growth, real estate speculation, and rising housing costs threatening workers, youth, retirees, and families—remain central to ongoing social and labor debates. "Progress must enable people to live and work with dignity," the union stated, urging decision-makers to turn these claims into effective rights. USdA deputy Joan Torra indicated that discussions on public honors would involve the family next week, with further commemorations planned.