Strike movement continues in prisons

Belgium

The Minister of Justice did not submit proposals to the unions, which could not submit them to their affiliates.

A breakthrough was expected Friday on the issue of prisons, which have since been confronted on 19 June a strike by prison officials denouncing the government's plan to impose, by means of requisitions of staff, a minimum service in the event of a strike of 32 hours or more.

After the discussions "constructive" conducted the day before between the Minister Koen Geens (CD & V) and the unions, the general bademblies were gathered Friday to badyze the new proposal of draft law.

This proposal of the government goes to the beyond the minimum service and concerns a more comprehensive reform of the status of prison officers. It concerns remuneration, career plans or recruitments.

However, nothing happened. The unions did not receive, as they expected, the texts of the Minister of Justice Koen Geens (CD & V). In the afternoon, they were still waiting for the final draft of the minister's bill, which aims to establish a minimum service in prisons in the event of a protracted strike. They have not been able to consult their bases Friday afternoon.

In the absence of text, the unions received Friday an invitation from the Minister of Justice Koen Geens to meet formally Monday, announced the front trade union union composed of the CSC Public Services, the CGSP-Amio and the SLFP.

A new meeting Monday morning

The unions received nothing and "the minister convened a meeting Monday at 8 am, " said Michel Jacobs, Federal Secretary of CGSP-Amio.

"With this new convocation, we can hope for progress on breaking points contained in the last text", discounted the permanent secretary of CSC Public Services Claudine Coupienne. Indeed, "the official negotiation ended Thursday and we still have not obtained the new version", continues Ms. Coupienne, which therefore badumes that the meeting on Monday will be based on new elements.

"This is a special issue and it would not be the first time we have come to a meeting without having been able to consult the new version beforehand", she adds.

unions will submit the new text at their base on Monday at 14.00. The actions are maintained for the weekend, confirmed the unions. On Monday, the Brussels prison guards will also cross their arms, according to the rotating strike model.