The PASYDY Prison Staff Branch characterizes Justice Minister Kostas Fytiris’ announcements for building new prisons outside urban areas and hiring more guards as a “crucial first step in the right direction.”
Their statement recognizes these measures respond to longstanding, documented staff demands while acknowledging the Minister’s stated political will for substantive correctional system changes.
Ongoing crisis warning
PASYDY warns the current prison situation allows no further delays, citing chronic severe understaffing, heightened risks to staff and inmates’ safety, and exhausting working conditions pushing the system “to its endurance limits.”
Staff have shouldered a marginally functioning system for years; the Branch demands immediate translation of announcements into actions.
Demands for implementation
PASYDY expects clear, binding implementation timelines, immediate filling of vacancies, and institutionalized staff representative involvement in all decision-making and execution stages.
The Branch pledges to remain an active, reliable interlocutor and ally in modernization and upgrade efforts.
Close monitoring stance
PASYDY will closely monitor announcement fulfillment and reject past practices where commitments yielded no results. It reaffirms full support for necessary changes benefiting prisons, staff, inmates, and society while preserving union roles and rights to dynamic claims when staff rights, safety, or dignity face challenge.
Also read: Fytiris: Prison reform – 90 guards, new modern facilities
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