The running of prisons was affected between 4 and 19 October 2000 following industrial action by prison officers. The action was called initially by the Federal Prison Administration Union (Union fédérale de l'administration pénitentiaire, UFAP) - affiliated to the National Federation of Independent Unions (Union nationale des syndicats autonomes, UNSA) - and the CGT-FO union, and then from 9 October, by CGT. Prison staff blockaded prison buildings' entrances and exits, apart from visiting rooms, and allowed only medical services to come and go. With no right to strike, this type of action is the only one left open to this group of civil servants. More than half of all prisons were affected by the industrial action, with the police sometimes having to intervene so that prisoners could be taken to trial.
French prisons were brought to a standstill in October 2000 by industrial action called by three prison officers' trade unions in a protest over shortages of staff and funding. After a two-week dispute, an agreement was reached by the two majority unions and the Ministry of Justice.
The running of prisons was affected between 4 and 19 October 2000 following industrial action by prison officers. The action was called initially by the Federal Prison Administration Union (Union fédérale de l'administration pénitentiaire, UFAP) - affiliated to the National Federation of Independent Unions (Union nationale des syndicats autonomes, UNSA) - and the CGT-FO union, and then from 9 October, by CGT. Prison staff blockaded prison buildings' entrances and exits, apart from visiting rooms, and allowed only medical services to come and go. With no right to strike, this type of action is the only one left open to this group of civil servants. More than half of all prisons were affected by the industrial action, with the police sometimes having to intervene so that prisoners could be taken to trial.
The unions calling for action were protesting against the new Ministry of Justice budget, and the low levels of funding contained in it. The budget provides for the creation of 141 jobs in the 187 existing prisons, with a total of 330 additional jobs including the staff of new prisons. The general secretary of FO's prison officers' union stated that French prisons needed another 2,500 officers. In support of their claims, the unions pointed to the concerns expressed in two parliamentary reports published in mid-2000 (one by the National Assembly, and the other by the Senate), which sharply criticised the appalling condition of prisons in France and highlighted staffing needs.
The dispute ended on 19 October, with a compromise package signed by the justice minister, Elisabeth Guigou (who has since become Minister of Employment and Solidarity), UFAP and CGT-FO. The agreement provides for the creation of 331 extra jobs, while around FRF 60 million will be made available to increase various bonuses - FRF 10 million of which will be allocated to the night work bonus. Furthermore, the deal provided that "the blockading of prisons should cease immediately." Only CGT, a minority union in this sector, refused to sign the agreement, stating that prison staff could "get many more jobs out of this".
Eurofound doporučuje citovat tuto publikaci následujícím způsobem.
Eurofound (2000), Officers bring prisons to two-week standstill, article.
