Prevention delegates from SEP-CV and CCOO at the Alicante City Council have reported air conditioning issues in municipal facilities to the Labor Inspectorate. According to the unions, this is not an isolated incident but a recurring situation over recent years, particularly severe during the summer months, which had already been flagged through previous written complaints and claims.
The organizations emphasize that malfunctioning, insufficient, or absent adequate air conditioning systems can create unsuitable thermal conditions for municipal staff, posing risks such as fatigue, dehydration, reduced attention, thermal stress, and an increase in work errors or accidents.
SEP-CV and CCOO stress that this matter should be addressed as a workplace risk prevention issue, not merely a comfort problem. The situation affects various work centers, including sports facilities, social centers, libraries, cultural spaces, administrative offices, municipal pools, youth centers, and other buildings with direct public service. Temporary solutions, like portable units or occasional repairs, have proven insufficient.
While acknowledging the efforts of the Infrastructure Service to address incidents, the unions warn that without adequate funding, a lasting solution is impossible. Therefore, they deem it essential for the Alicante City Council to allocate specific funds for the renovation, repair, and proper maintenance of air conditioning systems, as well as for annual preventive maintenance.
The complaint requests the Labor Inspectorate to verify the situation and, if necessary, issue official reports for non-compliance with labor risk prevention regulations. SEP-CV and CCOO are calling on the City Council for an updated inventory of facilities with thermal deficiencies, temperature and humidity measurements, a plan for equipment review and replacement, a prioritized action schedule, and regular updates to staff representatives. They insist that municipal staff cannot continue facing the same problems each summer without a structural, planned, and financially supported solution.
