The Sindicatura Municipal de Greuges is an institution created in 2001 with the unanimous vote of all the political groups of Reus City Council.

The Municipal Sindicatura de Greuges takes as a direct reference the legal figure born in Sweden with the name of Ombudsman and which, subsequently, other countries and institutions have been incorporating. There is also another historical reference in the figure of the síndic personer, created in 1766 in all the town councils of the state, who acted as attorney for the interests of the residents and who, as deputy of the common, was elected by direct suffrage.

Currently, it has the legal support of Law 21/2002, of the Generalitat, regarding the Municipal and Local Government Law of Catalonia.

What does the Union do?

The aim of the Greuges Municipal Trade Union is to strengthen the mechanisms of democracy by opening new channels of communication between the citizens and the local bodies of power and decision. 

The Municipal Sindicatura de Greuges aims to defend the rights of citizens in their relations with Reus City Council and the bodies that depend on it.

That is to say, to arbitrate, through direct dialogue, the relations between citizens and the administration.

• The Trade Union acts objectively and independently.

• The Union has an effective and recognized capacity to act in those situations where, despite the observance of the spirit of the laws, situations of grievance occur for people.

• The task of the Trade Union is a monitoring and attentive task. And it must make it possible to define a more humane perspective of the impact of municipal activity on people's lives and correct the errors and inconsistencies generated, despite everything, by the administrative gear.

Who can address it

All citizens who feel aggrieved by some municipal action or resolution in relation to their fundamental rights can contact them.

The Sindicatura can act at the request of a person who addresses it or ex officio. In the first case, any natural or legal person who is a neighbor or is domiciled in Reus and who expresses a legitimate interest in relation to the grievance they make can contact it to request that it act. 

• Grievances must be presented by the person concerned, in a reasoned letter accompanied by the necessary documentation.

• All actions of the Sindicatura are free for the interested person and do not require the assistance of a lawyer or a solicitor. 

• Between the production of the fact that is the subject of the grievance and the presentation and written formulation of this grievance to the Syndicate, no more than one year may elapse. This term also applies in cases where the Syndicature acts ex officio.

• Faced with the formulation of a grievance, the Sindicatura registers it and acknowledges its receipt to the interested person indicating whether the grievance is accepted or rejected. In the latter case, it communicates this to the interested person through a reasoned letter. 

They are outside the scope of action:

• Those that are formulated anonymously or without crediting the representation.

• Those in which bad faith is suspected.

• The lack of foundation or pretension.

• Those whose processing entails a detriment to the legitimate right of third parties.

• Those that refer to a matter that is not the competence of the Trade Union or that is outside its scope of action. In this case, if the matter is the responsibility of the Ombudsman or the Ombudsman of Catalonia, the Municipal Syndicate will send them the corresponding complaint and will inform the interested person of these actions.

The Sindicatura cannot investigate complaints that are related to an issue pending judicial resolution.

It can also suspend its action if, once it has started, an interested person files a claim or appeal before the courts; this suspension will be mandatory if the procedure is pending judgment.

The decisions and resolutions of the Municipal Sindicatura de Greuges, which take the form of a recommendation, cannot be the subject of any kind of appeal, and its intervention in a matter does not exclude or paralyze the deadlines for the presentation of administrative or jurisdictional appeals that are appropriate .

The Trade Union guarantees, with this Service, easy access to citizens and, in a special way, to those people who, due to their personal situation, have greater communication and information difficulties.

Where and how to raise the complaint

Inquiries or complaints must be made in writing and must be accompanied by the documentation deemed necessary. To process the complaint you must include:

• A detailed explanation of the objective and the circumstances that motivate it

• First and last name

• Address, postal code and town (our communications will reach you by mail)

• Telephone (to locate you in case of emergency

• Clear and precise purpose of the complaint

• Copy of all the documentation you have (facilitates and speeds up the work of the Sindicatura)

• Signature

You can send the complaint by regular mail, email or fax. The Sindicatura will acknowledge receipt and communicate the file number assigned to the person who presents the complaint, which will be useful for obtaining information about the processing.

The Sindicatura will study the written inquiry or complaint to see if it can admit it (in accordance with the powers) and will communicate this as soon as possible.

Action process of the Trade Union

Inquiries and complaints addressed to the Municipal Syndicate of Greuges must refer to the scope of action of Reus City Council or its dependent bodies.

Previously, they must have been processed through the ordinary way (departments, Citizen Service Office, etc.). In the event that the person who initiated the procedure considers that the answer obtained through this route is not correct or does not obtain an answer within 90 days, which is when the Syndicate can intervene.

I want to file a complaint with the Municipal Complaints Office