From Thursday evening to Friday evening, strikes will take place in all prisons across the country.
The protestors are condemning the intimidation and violence against staff members and are urging policymakers to address the urgent need for a "swift and decisive approach to terrorism."
The unions have jointly filed notices for a 24-hour strike starting Thursday, 27 March at 22:00. The action was announced after a heavy firecracker was thrown at a prison officer’s private vehicle earlier this month at Haren prison.
Last Saturday evening, an officer in Andenne was attacked by an inmate with psychiatric issues. Over the past weekend, another incident occurred at Haren prison, reported Robby De Kaey, the federal secretary of the socialist union ACOD.
During the strike, a static demonstration will also be held outside the office of Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden in Brussels. The unions have requested the minister to meet with a small union delegation to discuss the grievances of the striking staff in person.
Negotiations have been unproductive, said De Kaey, who expects stricter measures against aggression, drugs, and smartphones in prisons.
"As a union, we believe that steps can be taken that do not require budgetary resources and for which the director-general is not dependent on external partners." According to the federal secretary, there is strong support for the strike.
Earlier on Monday, Flemish Justice Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) announced that over the next 2.5 years, she is prepared to place an additional 4,000 convicted individuals under electronic supervision.
Due to the "disastrous" overcrowding in prisons, 3.400 convicted criminals are currently on a waiting list to go to prison.
