Workers from the Brians 1 and Brians 2 prisons once again blocked access this Thursday morning. The Protestants have once again made bonfires with tires at the doors of both prisons, in Sant Esteve Sesrovires (Barcelona) and will only allow access to essential services.
The protesters protest against the negotiation initiated between the unions and the Department of Justice since they claim that the former acted unilaterally and did not consult the staff. Furthermore, they defend that the two negotiation tables created, one on labor measures and the second on security, are meaningless. They insisted that the red line is the resignations of the councilor Gemma Ubasart and the secretary of Penal Measures, Amand Calderó.
The last protest by prison officials took place on Monday, March 25 at Brians 2. Then access was not blocked but rather a rally was held coinciding with the departure of footballer Dani Alves.
On Tuesday, the first meeting between the unions and the Department of Justice took place, which ended with the creation of two negotiation tables, one on working conditions and a second on safety. The workers of Brians 1 and 2 concentrated this morning but defend that this negotiation does not represent them. They criticize that the unions did not consult the staff about these meetings and defend that what the workers want are resignations.
The protesters speak of "closed" prisons, although they explained that they will guarantee the entry of essential services such as kitchens or doctors. They also warn that the mobilization will not end until these negotiations are concluded.
Firstly, they criticize that the table on working conditions does not make sense because the government is in office and does not have the capacity to make decisions that can be applied. Regarding the security committee, which meets this Thursday, sources from the movement have explained to ACN that a table that deals with security issues already existed since 2016 and has regretted that it has not been fruitful since attacks have continued to rise.
For all these reasons, the workers of Brians 1 and 2 have decided to return to the protests at the doors of the penitentiary centers and will decide in an assembly whether or not these mobilizations will continue.
The protests of the officials were unleashed after the murder on the 13th of the cook at the Mas d'Enric prison in Tarragona at the hands of an inmate who later committed suicide.
