Prison unions call off strike after agreeing €30m package with justice ministry 

Prison unions have canceled two days of strike action planned for today and May 11 after reaching an agreement with the Catalan government on Friday morning. 

The deal, as reported by the justice department, involves approximately €30 million worth of labor and safety improvements for prison workers. 

The justice department has agreed to an increase in wages, better working hours, more safety measures and more training. 

The UGT, CCOO, IAC-CATAC and Intersindical unions had called the strike following the death of a cook at the hands of an inmate in March in Mas d'Enric prison, southern Catalonia. The CSIF and ACAIP unions had already withdrawn from the strike. 

Improved conditions 

A minimum of 500 people will be added to the prisons' labor pool. In-house staff will see a special allowance increased by 13% to 22%, which could amount to around €10,000 per year. Rates for overtime, working on bank holidays or at night will all be improved. 

Inmates working in the prison cafeterias will be replaced by external staff and there will be self-defense training for all prison workers, the unions said. 

Emergency and security protocols will be reviewed, as will disciplinary and sanctioning procedures. An assessment will be made of the highest-risk situations, where it will be mandatory to work in pairs. 

Among the improvements, the cabinet has already announced a better "technology," similar to the one already in place "like buttons to warn others in case of danger and improving communications and improving their schooling," Catalan vice president Laura Vilagrà said.