Members of the prison guards’ sector of the Pancyprian union Isotita are holding a 24-hour strike today, staging a protest outside the Ministry of Justice over working conditions, staffing shortages and union rights.
Union demands meeting with Justice Minister
According to the decision taken during the General Assembly of the prison guards’ sector council, the protest is aimed at securing safer working conditions and respect for trade union activity.
Among its demands, the union is calling for an immediate and substantive meeting with the Justice Minister, claiming that “until today he refuses to meet us or respond to us. We will no longer tolerate the silence.”
The union is also demanding the immediate implementation of a comprehensive training programme for prison guards, which it says is currently “completely non-existent”, as well as measures to ensure health and safety conditions in workplaces.
Disciplinary case and overtime measures criticised
The union also described several demands as non-negotiable, including the immediate cancellation of disciplinary proceedings against the Vice President of the prison guards’ sector council of Isotita, Giorgos Maltezos, and “every form of retaliation against elected trade unionists”.
It further called for mandatory institutional consultation on all decisions affecting staff, arguing that union participation in decisions concerning employees is a fundamental principle of the European acquis.
The union is also seeking the immediate withdrawal of what it describes as an illegal order punishing employees who take sick leave by excluding them from overtime work for ten days.
It is additionally demanding the withdrawal and reassessment of prison protocols through consultation with the union, with their reintroduction on a pilot basis pending final evaluation.
Calls for prison reform
Among the structural reforms proposed are changes to the prison organisational structure and the appointment of an independent prisons director from outside the army and police, with proven expertise in correctional policy.
The union also called for the appointment of four specialised officers directly under the director, with expertise in criminology and personnel management.
It warned that if its demands are not addressed, it will escalate measures “with every legal and democratic means available to the trade union movement”.
Concerns over overcrowding and understaffing
According to the union, tensions escalated in December 2025 after Vice President and spokesperson Giorgos Maltezos publicly raised concerns about overcrowding, drug trafficking and understaffing in prisons, which the union says led to a coordinated effort to target him.
The union also highlighted severe staffing shortages, claiming ratios have reached one prison guard for every 60 to 70 inmates, or two guards for 100 to 120 prisoners, making the safe operation of prison wings impossible.
It further alleged that in some cases prison guards remain locked inside wings together with inmates during shifts, without immediate means of withdrawal or reinforcement, placing both staff and prisoners at risk.
According to the union, its claims are supported by rulings of the Nicosia Permanent Criminal Court and observations by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture.
Also read: US–Iran: Positive signs for reaching an agreement
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel
