The National Trade Union of Prison Policemen (SNPP) informs that, on Monday, it will launch the centralization of signatures to block the activities of the Penitentiary Police by refusing to work overtime on December 31, as of 6.30 am.
"As part of a unified reaction at the level of the entire penitentiary system, towards the contempt with which the governments treat the penitentiary police, SNPP has centralized over 5,000 signatures for the cessation of activity by refusing to work overtime, with the following demands: preserving in 2025 all rights currently in payment at least at the value of December 2024, the elimination from the "Emergency Ordinance regarding the 2025 budgetary measures" of the provisions that generate salary cuts for the penitentiary police," according to a press release sent to AGERPRES, signed by Stefan Teoroc, president of SNPP.
According to the press release, "the action on December 31 will show once again (the first action of this type taking place on May 31, 2023) that the Penitentiary Police remains functional only because the prison police officers agree to perform additional work in a huge volume, unique in Romania."
"The simple exercise of the legal right to refuse to work overtime even for a short period of time generates blockages, especially in the operational sector. On the mentioned date, the personnel will report to work but will not enter the units. Therefore, the shifts on duty for 12 hours will not be able to be changed on the morning of December 31, the roll call of prisoners will not be carried out, and a long series of structures and activities will be blocked (visits, walks, work points, court appearances, etc.). (...) The action of December 31 represents a warning to the government, as well as proof that we are determined to completely cease activities in January 2025. The government will have to identify alternative solutions for guarding, escorting and surveillance missions in prisons. The actions of refusing to work overtime will be supported with protests in front of all prisons in Romania," state the unionists.