Portuguese prison guards stage strike amid prisoner unrest

LISBON, Portugal – Portuguese prison guards are walking off the job in an ongoing pay dispute, just days after prisoners rioted at two prisons amid restrictions caused by strikes.

The prison guards, who are government workers, started a new strike Thursday to demand salary hikes and bonus payments for late shifts.

They have been walking out sporadically all year, and some prisoners are reportedly unhappy about cancelled visits because of the walkouts.

Prisoners rioted earlier this week in Lisbon and held a protest at another prison.

The Justice Ministry noted the new strikes taking place through December and January could cause the cancellation of Christmas and New Year festivities, stoking unrest.

The guards, numbering around 4,000, must by law provide minimum services to ensure prisons remain operational during the strike action.