Belgian prison staff threaten strike from September 6 over conditions

Prison personnel in Belgium are signaling a potential strike starting September 6, warning that it could extend beyond a single day if immediate solutions are not provided. The unions representing the staff have voiced long-standing grievances regarding the conditions within the nation's correctional facilities.

Central to the staff's discontent are the persistent problems of overcrowding and a significant number of inmates sleeping on the floor due to a lack of cells. Compounding these issues are ongoing staff shortages, which unions argue compromise the safety of both personnel and inmates. The accumulated backlog of leave days owed to staff has reportedly reached 800,000 days, adding to the strain.

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The consequence is that the staff cannot work safely and cannot recover in time from the difficult circumstances in which they have been forced to work for years.

Unions assert that the current circumstances prevent staff from working safely and from adequately recovering from the demanding nature of their jobs. This has led to a high rate of staff departures, with twice as many personnel resigning compared to five years ago. The situation has been exacerbated by a government decision to more quickly summon staff during strikes to ensure minimal service delivery, a move that has angered union representatives.

"Prison staff deserve better than to be silenced by their political authority," stated a joint communiqué from the unions. They are resolute in their stance, declaring that if their demands are not addressed, a strike will commence in every penitentiary institution at 10 PM on September 6, 2026, and will not be a one-day action.

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Prison staff deserve better than to be silenced by their political authority, and if the requested solutions are not forthcoming, there will be a strike in every penitentiary institution from September 6, 2026, at 10 PM and not for 1 day.