Naples – It's not just overcrowded cells and skyrocketing tensions: the Italian prison crisis, and particularly that of Campania, reveals a dark side that affects the dignity and workplace safety of even prison guards.
The latest complaint, launched by Consipe (Confederation of Penitentiary Unions), is a harsh indictment that lays bare the state of degradation in which the facilities find themselves.
Poggioreale: degradation on the plate
The heart of the protest is the Poggioreale prison, one of the most critical institutions in the region due to chronic overcrowding. Here, the situation in the staff cafeterias has reached rock bottom. Consipe Vice President Luigi Castaldo has pointed the finger at "episodes of cockroach and other insect infestations" in the areas designated for mealtimes.
"An unseemly and unacceptable situation," reiterates Castaldo, who has forced some Penitentiary Police personnel to abstain from meals. It's not just substandard meals and insufficient resources, a widespread problem throughout Italy, but a clear violation of workplace health and safety regulations. The officers' exasperation is the result of years of "carelessness and cost-cutting policies contrary to the well-being of staff."
Prisons in Campania: A System on the Verge of Collapse
Consipe's complaint comes amid a prison crisis that is reaching dramatic proportions in Campania. The problems at the Poggioreale soup kitchen are a symptom of systemic dysfunction:
Record Overcrowding: Campania's schools are among the most crowded in Italy.
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Staffing Shortages: The Penitentiary Police Department operates with a drastically understaffed workforce. The lack of human resources forces officers to work grueling shifts, worsening the quality of service and, as the case of the canteens demonstrates, their working conditions.
Obsolete Structures: Most prisons, including Poggioreale, are dated and often dilapidated buildings, where maintenance is insufficient to ensure minimum standards of decorum and health.
The union isn't just calling for a stopgap solution, but also for a national focus on school canteen services, with a particular focus on schools in Campania. The goal is to compare management with those of other state administrations, where "more efficient management ensures decent meals, both qualitatively and quantitatively."
The stakes are high: the dignity and health of the women and men in uniform who, every day, despite the harsh conditions, ensure safety within prison walls.
Castaldo's message is an ultimatum: Consipe calls for "urgent, concrete, and decisive action." Otherwise, "all available legal remedies will be pursued to protect workers' rights and health." This health and sanitation crisis adds to the structural crisis, making the Italian prison system a veritable social and labor powder keg.
Comments (1)
This is a very serious and worrying situation; the hygienic conditions in the cafeterias are unacceptable. Prison guards deserve a dignified and safe working environment; I can't believe it's gotten to this point.