site.btaPrison Officers Stage Protest, Justice Ministry Vows to Update Their Wages by end-October

Prison Officers Stage Protest,
Justice Ministry Vows
to Update Their Wages by end-October


Sofia, September 1 (BTA) - Several hundred prison officers from
across the country rallied outside the Justice Ministry on
Monday, urging for higher pay and reintroduction of 24-hour
shifts.

Ivan Petrov, leader of the prison officers trade union, told
journalists that their issues are still unresolved. According to
 him, reintroducing 24-hour shifts in places which are
understaffed offers a short-term solution only. Also, prison
officers want their pay to become equal to that at other
law-enforcement agencies.

However, budget estimations indicate that this may happen as
early as 2015. According to Petrov, prison officers want 24-hour
 shifts to be reintroduced, as many have to commute long
distances and this adds to their monthly travel expenses.

Representatives of the largest police trade union came to
support prison officers.

Police officers trade union leader Valentin Popov said that
police and prison officers have similar problems. He added that
when setting the work schedule, the opinion of the trade unions
should be taken into consideration.

Justice Minister Hristo Popov is expected to meet the leaders of
 the prison officers trade union at 1 pm.

In a statement on Monday, the Justice Ministry said that prison
officers' pay will be updated in line with the new Interior
Ministry Act by the end of October.

Working groups have been set up to draw up draft secondary
legislation.

Under an order of the Justice Minister, all draft normative
documents will be submitted to the trade union for consideration
 and representatives of the trade union will be invited to
correctional facilities to assess possibilities to reintroduce
24-hour shifts. SN/PP

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