Today, Wednesday, March 7, we presented the Agreement that the government of the New Majority signed with the Union Leaders of the City Hall (CONC-CCOO, CSI-F, USOC, SFP and UGT). The Agreement guarantees the continuity of employment, thanks to the renunciation by part of the staff of certain benefits consolidated over the years. The Agreement represents savings of 1.4 million € for the City Hall.
The Agreement regulates the temporary suspension of the concepts of productivity, the municipal contribution to the pension plan and certain social benefits enjoyed by the workers of the City Hall. The Agreement allowed the corporation to maintain the 2012 staff, an impossible feat without the agreed reduction of expenses that stopped unavoidable layoffs.
In this regard, thanks to the understanding between the Government and Union Representatives, the Chapter 1 Item of the 2012 Municipal Budget, to be approved during the coming weeks, which corresponds to the cost of staff and human resources, will show a reduction of 1,4 million Euros in relation with last year’s figures. To the abovementioned savings, we must also add the reduction in salaries of elected officials implemented by the government of the New Majority at the beginning of the current legislature, and also the suppression of various positions of trust and directors.
All such measures aim to reduce the deficit and redirect municipal finances, in a dire state thanks to irresponsible management implemented during the past years.
For this reason, I want to thank the exercise of responsibility made by the Union Representatives of the City Hall. They are well aware of serious condition of municipal finances. A responsibility that all the inhabitants of Sitges show everyday. They know that the current economic climate do not allow the maintenance of certain situations. We were able to witness such a responsible behavior during the Three Wise Men Celebration, and just a few days ago during Carnival. We can also perceive such a stance everyday in the attitude of all businesses, organizations and society at large with a direct or indirect relationship with the City Hall. We are determined to redirect municipal finances, but to make this possible we need efforts, imagination and will.
The situation is very complex, but we will prevail if we act with financial accuracy, and with the capacity of mutual understanding and the dynamic and active spirit that has always distinguished this town.
