The agreement, ratified in the April Plenary Session, marks the second convention reached in the current term and received unanimous support from the UGT, CCOO, and CSIF unions. The institution's president, David Toscano, emphasized that this achievement is the result of “serious, responsible, and constructive dialogue” with union representatives.
“"It is a commitment to taking care of those who make it possible for the Provincial Council to function and for our services to reach the eighty-two municipalities and the two ELAs that make up this province. Behind every service, there are people working with seriousness and commitment, dedicated professionals, prepared and deeply linked to public service. And that is, in essence, what public service is, people serving people."
Toscano also stressed that the agreement strengthens the institution, making it “stronger, more effective, and better prepared” for future challenges. Meanwhile, Alberto Fernández, vice-president and deputy for Human Resources, thanked the unions for their “loyalty and involvement,” noting that this is the second unanimous agreement in the term, following the unblocking of a convention that had been stalled since 2018.
Among the main innovations, the Mixed Agreement incorporates the assessment of factors such as digital updating and psychosocial risk in job positions. Additionally, it includes an additional provision for the development of performance evaluation and career development regulations, as well as a job evaluation. New measures for working hour flexibility are also introduced, such as extended summer hours and daily flexible working hours.
“"This agreement will allow a great step forward in the modernization of the Provincial Council, especially with the approval of career development, which will finally be implemented."
Emilio Gegúndez, from CC.OO, highlighted the speed with which this agreement was reached, in contrast to the previous four years without a convention. He stressed that the pact includes “very substantial, concrete, tangible, and budget-allocated advances,” such as the recovery of the purchasing power of provincial employees, which had been eroded since the 2010 cuts. He also positively valued the commitment to equality with budgetary implications.
Finally, Mari Carmen Ponce, representative of CSIF, expressed confidence that the agreement would benefit all workers and emphasized the implementation of career development as a “milestone in local administration,” positioning the Huelva Provincial Council as a pioneer. She also advocated for teleworking as a measure for work-life balance and the creation of a workplace harassment protocol.
