Workers’ protests and prison blockades
This Monday, there were protests by Catalan prison workers following the murder of a colleague. The prisons of Lledoners, Ponent, Puig de les Basses, Brians 1 and 2 and Mas d’Enric have been blocked by dozens of prison officials. They have placed tires, branches and stones at the entrances to prevent the passage to the penitentiary.
Some prisons, such as Quatre Camins and Joves, have been avoided by the Mossos d’Esquadra, who have forced them to leave one lane open. In the women’s prison, known as Wad-Ras, there are about twenty concentrated workers who have allowed the exit of third-degree inmates and the entry of food, but not other movements. Subsequently, Brians 2 has also been able to open cells.
Meeting of the Minister of Justice
Given the situation, the Minister of Justice, Gemma Ubasart, has called the unions to a new meeting at 2 pm this Monday. Ubasart has assured that it is necessary to speak and has recalled that many workers do not understand the blockage in the dialogue. He has offered improvements to the system, such as adding more staff or early retirement.
Situation of the interns
The inmates of Brians 2, Quatre Camins and Joves prisons have been able to leave their cells, but no activities or workshops can be held. In total, around 4,000 inmates remain locked up in their cells in the other Catalan prisons. In the women’s prison, female inmates are allowed to leave to shower, but must return to their cells.
Performance of the Mossos d’Esquadra
The Mossos d’Esquadra have cut off vehicle access to the Brians prisons, but a hundred workers have accessed on foot and are preventing the last access to the prisons. In Quatre Camins, there is a heavy police deployment with anti-riot units leaving one lane open to avoid the blockade. In Lledoners, a hundred officials blocked the way to the prison with tires and set fire, blocking the way to the road. At Mas d’Enric, the enclosure is made with trees, stones and tires, without setting them on fire.
Workers’ claims
The workers denounce the working conditions and assaults that have increased in recent years. They also require more staff and more resources to ensure security. They have put up graffiti and banners calling for the resignation of the Minister of Justice and the director of the prison.
