An indefinite strike will start in Belgian prisons on Monday evening at 10 p.m. The three major prison staff unions called for the strike after consultations with Minister of Justice Paul Van Tigchelt (Open VLD) last week failed.
The unions left the negotiating table when the minister said he would demand minimum services from day one. Van Tigchelt thus started an open war with the staff and the unions, the liberal trade union VSOA said in an open letter on Sunday. Alain Blancke, national delegate of the Christian ACV, confirms that the minimum occupancy procedure is being followed and that people have been requisitioned. This is initially done by the prison management.
For years, the unions have been addressing overcrowding and staff shortages in prisons. The socialist ACOD speaks of “years of poor working conditions and inhumane living conditions”. According to the unions, the minister’s proposed measures were insufficient to tackle overcrowding and aggression problems in Belgian prisons. The unions believe that the situation with the approximately 1,000 internees living in the prisons must be addressed urgently.
On Thursday, April 4, the unions will have another appointment with the cabinet of Minister Van Tigchelt. The unions are therefore working together with the cabinet of Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit) on the placement of internees in forensic psychiatric centers (FPC). According to ACV representative Blancke, the action will be evaluated on Wednesday.
Since a detainee was tortured for days in the detention center in Antwerp almost three weeks ago, Minister Van Tigchelt has been under fire. At the time the violence took place, a strike was also underway.
LOOK. Minister of Justice Paul Van Tigchelt: “You cannot leave prison unguarded”
Minister Van Tigchelt is again criticized after torture in prison: “You seem to live on another planet”
RECONSTRUCTION. How could cellmates torture detainees for days without anyone intervening? (+)
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