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France - prison blockades
Prison officers suspend dispute
Article published on the 2009-05-08 Latest update 2009-05-08 15:46 TU
Prison wardens block the entrance of the Fresnes prison during the dispute
(Photo: Reuters)
France's prison officers on Thursday voted to suspend industrial action over jobs and working conditions. But trade unions say that the dispute, which saw prisons blockaded and clashes with the police, could flare up again.
After a four-day dispute and seven hours of negotiations, the two largest trade unions in the prison service agreed to a deal which will create 174 jobs, on top of the 177 promised at an earlier stage of the dispute in February.
In a ballot Thursday a majority of prison officers accepted the deal but union leaders admit that there is discontent in the ranks, including "pockets of resistance" at Paris's notoriously overcowded Santé prison and at Fresnes, not far from the capital.
A third union, the CGT, walked out of talks with Interior Minister Rachida Dati and says it may launch new protests.
The prison officers, who do not have the right to strike, made up for their apparent lack of industrial muscle by blockading prisons and preventing inmates from being moved.
The dispute first blew up in autumn last year but calmed down when Dati promised to improve conditions for the 24,000 officers, who have to deal with 63,000 prisoners in jails built for 52,000 inmate. Since January ten of their colleagues have committed suicide.
 Prison guards vote on government proposal |
