2023-09-19 14:55:42
The Free Civil Service Union (SLFP) announced on Tuesday that it would activate a staff strike notice in all prisons on Sunday September 24, for a period of 48 hours from 10:00 p.m.
Tuesday morning, a union delegation met with the office of the Minister of Justice, Vincent Van Quickenborne. The representatives notably denounced “the inhumane working conditions” in Belgian prisons, the lack of staff and the increasing attacks within the prisons. In particular, they requested additional investments from the minister.
This meeting, however, did not make it possible to find short-term solutions, which is why the SLFP decided to activate the strike notice filed last Friday by the General Central of Public Services (CGSP), the Confederation of Christian Unions (CSC) and the SLFP for all prisons in the country, to protest once morest prison overcrowding.
It is still difficult to assess the impact of the strike, but it is expected that a large part of the prison staff will participate, according to Eddy De Smedt, secretary of the SLFP Prisons. The CGSP also expects significant disruptions, due to deep dissatisfaction among staff. The union also indicated that a new meeting with the Minister of Justice might take place next week.
At the CSC Public Services, discussions are still underway concerning the activation, or not, of the strike notice. Alain Blancke, union leader, however, agrees with the position of the other unions, namely that no response might be given during the consultation organized on Tuesday to identify possible short-term solutions. “We were listened to, but it was of no use“, he concludes.
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