Will EU Justice Ministers ignore the prison crush?

European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU)

Media Calling Notice: www.epsu.org/prisons

To EU media correspondents

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Will EU Justice Ministers ignore the prison crush?

Prison Staff organisations announce 28 February Brussels rally to put prison overcrowding on EU agenda

(12 February 2008, Brussels) The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) announces a rally; ‘NO to Prison Overcrowding' to coincide with the meeting of EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministers on 28 February. The action, involving 400+ prison staff from all over Europe, will take place outside the Council of Ministers building (Justus Lipsius) from 12h00-15h00 on 28 February. The aim of the rally is to demand that the issue of Prison Overcrowding is put on the EU agenda, and in particular that prison working conditions are improved by a reduction in prisoner numbers. The Action Day will be backed up by events by prison staff, and representatives, in 10 other European Union member states
The rally organisers expect to be received by the Slovenian EU Presidency representatives (hosting the Justice Ministers meeting). European and National trade union leaders will be available for interview throughout the day. For details please contact Brian Synnott +32 2 250 10 89 [email protected]

EPSU regards this rally as the start of a sustained campaign calling for an improvement in prison working conditions.

Full EPSU briefing on prison overcrowding here (including causes, consequences, solutions and statistics on prison overcrowding.

WHERE? WHEN? On the time, place of the rally go here

EPSU Action Plan on Prisons available here

Note to Photo Journalists: The participants will construct a life-size prison cell filled with “prisoners” to illustrate the problems of overcrowding.

Contact details: For further information, please contact EPSU Press Officer Brian Synnott, at + 32 474 98 96 75 or [email protected]

"EPSU is the European Federation of Public Service Unions. It is the largest federation of the ETUC.
8 million public service workers from over 200 trade unions are members.
They organise workers in the energy, water and waste sectors, health and social services and local and national administration".