Prison officers began a 24-hour strike at 10 pm on Thursday evening. The strike is in protest against intimidation and violence against prison staff. The aim is to put pressure on lawmakers to “take swift and decisive action” against the intimidation of those that work in Belgium’s jails.
Prison staff stage 24-hour strike in protest against violence in the country’s jails
Published:
All the unions that represent prison staff are taking part in the action that follows a recent spate of incidents. At the beginning of this month a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a car belonging to a prison officer that works at Haren Prison in Brussels. Last weekend, a prison guard that works at Andenne Prison in Liège Province was attacked by a prisoner with psychiatric issues. There was also a further incident at Haren last weekend and on Wednesday a prisoner at Haren Prison attacked and injured a prison officer.
The trade unions are calling for swift and decisive action to be taken against violence, drugs and mobile phone smuggling in the country’s prisons.
During the strike, a delegation made up of trade unionists that represent prison staff will go to the office of the Federal Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden (Flemish Christian democrat). They will ask to be allowed inside to discuss their grievances with the Justice Minister in person.