Madrid Sees a Large Demonstration by Prison Officers Over Sector Recognition and Conditions
Nearly four thousand prison officers, including about 150 workers from Alicante and Villena prisons, gathered this week in Madrid to demand a formal response from the government. The main ask centers on recognizing the group as a distinct sector within the General State Administration so they can negotiate under their own sectoral table with Catalan authorities and advance their members’ demands through a dedicated framework.
The protest began on Ferraz Street, in front of the PSOE headquarters, and concluded at the gates of the Congress of Deputies. It was organized by the union Your Abandonment Could Kill Me (TAMP) and the Professional Association of Prison Officials (APFP). Participants expressed a unified plea for safer working conditions, better pay, and clearer career progression as the workforce ages and retirement patterns shift.
The TAM P spokesperson noted that prison officers seek not just incremental salary adjustments but a comprehensive framework that formally recognizes the profession within the state structure. They argue that having their own sectoral table would streamline negotiations and ensure timely responses to evolving workforce needs, including continued education and placement changes aligned with retirement trends.
Officers stressed that a lack of adequate support from the administration contributes to a sense of abandonment, prompting street demonstrations as a direct call for government action. They emphasized the importance of salary adjustments and labor improvements to attract and retain qualified personnel in a context of rising retirements and a widening gap in staffing stability.
During the demonstration, participants also pressed for formal recognition of the police-type status for their role and highlighted concerns about violence against authorities in prison settings. They argued that a clearer, legally defined framework could mitigate conflicts, improve safety for staff and inmates alike, and bring greater accountability to law enforcement within correctional facilities.