Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ghent prison unions have filed a strike notice as guards are increasingly required to watch drug suspects in hospitals, citing safety and workload concerns.
The fact that guards are now being used to protect suspects outside the province infuriates them. Social unrest has always been a result of overcrowding and staff shortages. The unions are threatening to go on strike beginning on August 10th and are demanding talks.
Ghent Prison is experiencing unrest. There was a brief strike by some employees on Thursday morning. Everyone eventually went back to work after a discussion with management.
The primary cause of the unhappiness is the fact that guard tasks are now periodically performed by prison employees as well.
Sometimes, guards are sent to the Antwerp hospital where suspects in violent crimes involving drugs are being detained. This effort is on top of the staffing shortfall and the current overpopulation in Ghent, Belgium.
The unions have had enough. They are filing a strike notice.
“Guarding prisoners at hospitals is not our job. That falls under the jurisdiction of the federal police. Management forces people to drive from Ghent to Antwerp for that guarding, and then they get another shift. They sometimes work 16 hours straight. That’s irresponsible,”
Says Robby De Kaey of the socialist union.
For a while now, they have been griping about the crowding. In addition to everything else, they are severely understaffed this summer. They have long called for more employees, but finding new hires is proving to be challenging. Correctional facilities aren’t exactly the ideal place to work. It doesn’t help that the government is intruding on the benefits of civil staff. Minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) is being urged by the unions to come up with a solution.
“As a former Minister of the Interior, she knows very well that security is not part of our duties. She is now Minister of Justice and must take responsibility,”
Says De Kaey. The unions are threatening action starting at 10 p.m. on August 10th.
Currently, Verlinden is developing a plan to add around 2,000 prison spaces. Overcrowding should at least be addressed by this. The need for employees will only grow as a result, though, as hiring is currently exceedingly challenging.
How will the strike affect the safety and rights of inmates and suspects in Ghent prisons?
Strikes often lead to staff shortages or lower staffing levels, which can reduce effective supervision inside prisons. This increases risks of violence, unrest, or neglect of inmates’ needs. When guards are stretched thin or absent, problems like contraband, aggression, or health emergencies may escalate.
Guards play key roles in facilitating safe movement of inmates within facilities for medical, legal, or visitation purposes. A strike may disrupt these routines, potentially restricting inmates’ rights to healthcare, legal counsel, and family contact.
During strikes, authorities sometimes deploy less experienced personnel or external forces to maintain order.
