Strikes until tomorrow morning in prisons after failed consultation with minister: “Van Tigchelt has blown up all bridges” | Domestic
--
UPDATESpontaneous strikes are ongoing in the Antwerp prison and ten other penitentiary institutions in Flanders and Brussels until 6 am on Friday morning. They started this morning out of dissatisfaction with the fact that Minister of Justice Paul Van Tigchelt (Open Vld) wanted to discuss minimum services again. Certainly in Antwerp, but also in most other prisons, the walk and visit cannot take place, says federal secretary Eddy De Smedt of the liberal trade union VSOA.
The fact that the minister, during the meeting that has since been canceled earlier in the day, once again emphasized the minimum service provision and “claiming on the day of the strike itself” did not go down well with the unions, says De Smedt.
The spontaneous actions started on Thursday morning. According to Alain Blancke, national representative of the Christian ACV, spontaneous actions are currently still taking place in eleven prisons, namely Leuven Central, Ghent, Antwerp, Hasselt, Haren, Sint-Gillis, Merksplas, Wortel, Mechelen, Turnhout and Bruges.
The unions have already announced an indefinite strike in all Belgian prisons from Monday, April 1 at 10 p.m
No visitors
Certainly in Antwerp, but also in most other prisons, this means no walks and no visitors for the detainees, according to De Smedt. “The strike ends Friday at 6 a.m. (when the morning shift starts, ed.)”
Earlier on Thursday, the unions announced an indefinite strike in all Belgian prisons from Monday, April 1 at 10 p.m.
The Prison Service (DG EPI) confirmed the actions earlier today. The work stoppages mainly took place in prisons in Flanders and Brussels, according to Prison Service spokesman Tom Van Wynsberge. He did not provide further details.
Abandoned consultation
This morning a meeting took place between Minister of Justice Paul Van Tigchelt (Open Vld) and the prison unions about the problems in prisons. During the consultation, Van Tigchelt proposed measures to reduce overcrowding in prisons and thus combat aggression. The prison unions consider the measures proposed by the minister to be inadequate.
Since the incidents in the Sint-Gillis prison and the Antwerp prison, Van Tigchelt has been under fire. The unions want overcrowding, staff shortages and aggression problems to be tackled. This was said by Alain Balcke of the Christian trade union ACV this morning before the start of the consultation. The three trade unions ACV, ACOD and VSOA had submitted a strike notice for all Belgian prisons in order to force the minister to consult on the situation in the prisons.
Van Tigchelt wants to avoid ‘there are still rough sleepers in the prisons’
Van Tigchelt said in his statement after the meeting that he fully understands the concerns of prison staff about a shortage of space and the workload in prisons. During the consultation, he proposed measures to reduce overcrowding and thus combat aggression in prisons. According to Van Tigchelt, overcrowding has already decreased in recent weeks by taking measures regarding, among other things, extended penitentiary leave. The new furlough system was introduced as a temporary measure to tackle dramatic prison overcrowding. The additional measures should further reduce the number of detainees in the short term. Van Tigchelt wants to avoid “there are still rough sleepers in the prisons”.
In his announcement this morning, the minister said that he wants to guarantee the safety of detainees and staff. He therefore also consulted with the unions about this.
Unions not satisfied
The unions believe that the measures proposed by the minister are insufficient to tackle overcrowding in prisons. “We left the negotiating table when the minister wanted to demand the minimum services,” said Eddy De Smedt, federal secretary at the liberal trade union VSOA. According to him, the minister has “blown the bridges”.
The unions have therefore activated their strike notice. The strike in Belgian prisons starts on Monday, April 1 at 10:00 PM and will continue for an indefinite period. That’s what the various unions say. The minister decided that staff can be requisitioned from the first day of the strike. Robby De Kaey, federal secretary of the socialist ACOD, believes this is “muzzling the staff”.
The office of the justice minister says it has asked for safety for staff and detainees to be guaranteed at all times, including during a strike. “Prison is not a place to be left unattended, which is why the minimum level of services is needed.” According to the government, this is feasible. In 70 percent of the previous strikes, there were sufficient staff present to provide that minimum service, it said.
LOOK. Minister of Justice Paul Van Tigchelt: “You cannot leave prison unguarded”
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss anything from the stars.
