Prison guards of the Isotita union began a 24-hour strike on Friday, protesting outside the justice ministry over what they describe as unsafe working conditions, union retaliation and the growing “militarisation” of the prison system.

The strike comes amid escalating tensions between staff, prison management and the justice ministry, with the union demanding direct engagement of Justice Minister Costas Fitiris.

Α union representative told the Cyprus Mail that the minister is being shielded from the realities inside the prison.

“He was taken to the nice areas, where the wings are in good condition. He was not taken to see prisoners who could speak about their complaints or what is really happening inside,” he said.

“All the people you see here are staff working in the prison wings. They are the ones who should be telling the minister exactly what is happening first-hand, and only then should decisions be made.”

He said repeated attempts at dialogue had been met with resistance.

“When we hit a wall with the minister, a wall with the prison management, what are we supposed to do? We take to the streets and shout.”

He added that the union was seeking cooperation, not confrontation.

Among the union’s demands are an immediate and substantive meeting with the justice minister, the implementation of a formal training programme for prison guards, and stronger workplace health and safety protections.

The union is also calling for disciplinary proceedings against its vice-president to be dropped, claiming the action amounts to retaliation against an elected union official.

The dispute stems from December 2025, when union vice-president and spokesman Giorgos Maltezos publicly raised concerns about prison overcrowding, understaffing and drug trafficking behind bars, the union said.

Another major grievance is a reported directive preventing employees who take sick leave from working overtime for 10 days, which the union described as unlawful and punitive.

Isotita is also demanding institutional consultation on all staff-related decisions, a review of prison operating protocols, restructuring of the prison hierarchy, and the appointment of an independent prisons director from outside the military or police with expertise in correctional policy.

The union alleges severe understaffing, claiming one prison guard may be responsible for 60 to 70 inmates, while in some cases two guards oversee up to 120 prisoners.

It also said guards can be left locked inside prison wings with inmates during shifts without immediate backup, creating risks for both staff and prisoners.

The union warned that if its demands are ignored, it will escalate industrial action through all legal avenues available.