Andorra Housing Union SHA Clarifies Formal Establishment as Political Choice

The Sindicat d’Habitatge d’Andorra (SHA) has issued a statement clarifying that its recent formal establishment as a trade union stems from a political and organisational decision, rather than any legal or administrative requirement.

Following the transformation of the Coordinadora per l’Habitatge Digne into a union, the SHA emphasised that this step emerged from a collective process begun at its inception. The group maintains that it has long performed union functions, even before adopting its official name. “What defines a trade union is not a legal label, but its practice,” the statement reads.

The SHA noted that gaining legal personality simplifies bureaucratic matters, such as opening a bank account, accessing venues, or joining events. However, it stressed that its legitimacy derives from popular organisation and collective struggle, which it has pursued from the outset.

For years, the group has served as a valid interlocutor with institutions, participating in forums like the Comissió Nacional d’Habitatge and various working groups. These activities, it argued, demonstrate that its voice reflects an organised social reality, despite lacking formal recognition until now.

The name change, the SHA said, strengthens its political and social stance. It explicitly embraces housing unionism as a collective tool to defend the right to a dignified life in Andorra, while challenging speculation, abuses, and institutional inaction on housing issues.