Andorra Unions Unite for Municipal Staff Pay and Career Reforms

Unions from Andorra la Vella and La Massana have united to demand salary grid updates, triennium reviews, and regulated career paths for municipal staff, following their initial joint meeting on Friday, February 6, in La Massana.

The Sindicat de Treballadors del Comú d’Andorra la Vella (SITCA) and Sindicat de Treballadors del Comú de la Massana (SITCOLAMA) outlined these priorities in a communiqué released Tuesday. They highlighted parallel working conditions in both parishes and agreed to hold monthly meetings to track progress and develop shared tactics. The unions plan to invite representatives from the Associació de Treballadors del Comú de Sant Julià de Lòria (ATCOSA)—presided by Ramon Ibars with 50% staff affiliation—at their next gathering to expand coordination across parishes.

SITCOLAMA pointed to the lack of a defined legal framework for labour relations with La Massana's administration, arguing it fosters uncertainty and prevents consistent conditions. The groups also flagged disparities in special traffic agent units, where staff in both parishes work 40 hours against a standard 37.5-hour week. Andorra la Vella agents receive compensation or time off for the extra half-hour, while La Massana employees do not—a matter they aim to scrutinize further.

SITCA, revived earlier in 2024 under president Cristian Asensio, is pushing for a complementary retirement savings plan from the Andorra la Vella commune to supplement CASS contributions, akin to government and public entity offerings.

SITCOLAMA represents 60% of La Massana staff. It refreshed its leadership last summer, appointing Sofia Martins—a coordinator at Punt 400—as president and Nathalie Riba as vice-president. The union's roots date to 2017, with traffic agent Francesc "Pancho" Lizama as its first president in 2018.

In response, La Massana's Cònsol Major Eva Sansa stated Wednesday that her parish, along with Encamp, Canillo, and Escaldes-Engordany, is preparing an edicte for a job classification study. She emphasized caution, noting decisions on demands like salary updates would follow the assessment. Sansa described relations with SITCOLAMA as smooth and transparent, with their latest meeting in December focusing on hiring needs; three administrative posts are now in recruitment. She added that expanding staff while raising pay poses challenges. Minority councillor Guillem Forné said they would meet soon to address the issues.

Sansa noted a positive atmosphere in La Massana's traffic service, where agents prioritise good working conditions over salary gaps of €100-200 compared to other parishes. Cònsol Menor Roger Fité echoed this view.

Only three municipal unions remain active: in Andorra la Vella, La Massana, and Sant Julià de Lòria. Escaldes-Engordany's dissolved in early August after years of inactivity, while Encamp and Ordino efforts ended earlier.