The Trade Union of Pre-trial Investigation Institutions of the Republic of Lithuania (LRITĮPS), the Trade Union of Pre-trial Investigation Institutions of Vilnius County (VAITĮPS) and the Trade Union Centre have expressed their lack of confidence in the minister.
In the press release, the trade unions also said they approached Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius to assess Tamašunienė’s performance and make decisions that, according to the officials’ representatives, would ensure responsible, competent management of the penal system based on results rather than declarations.
„The officers’ patience has run out. For months on end, we have been hearing talk – presumably copied straight from textbooks – about priorities, plans and concern for officers. However, these fine words have not made prisons any safer, salaries have not become more competitive, there are no more officers, and the problems with prison infrastructure have not gone away. We are therefore simply asking: how much longer will the state and prison officers be forced to put up with such management of the system and the Ministry of Justice?“ – Kęstutis Pauliukas, Chair of the LRITĮPS, is quoted as saying in the statement.
In their appeal to the prime minister, the trade unions emphasise that infrastructure projects in the prison system are stalling, staff are in short supply, employees are paid uncompetitive wages, working conditions are deteriorating, and the system lacks sufficient funding.
In the trade unions’ view, rather than focusing on resolving these issues, Tamašunienė has become overly involved in the administration and personnel matters of the Lithuanian Prison Service (LKT).
„The minister’s conflict with Mindaugas Kairys, Director of the Lithuanian Prison Service, is also public knowledge – Tamašunienė herself confirmed in September that an internal investigation had been carried out into his actions and that a decision on disciplinary action was pending. It is strange that the minister, who is clearly unable to manage her own ministry, has taken it upon herself to effectively run yet another institution directly, leaving its head to act as a sort of steward,“ said Vitalijus Jagminas, head of VAITĮPS, as quoted.
Trade unions are also criticising the quality of social dialogue within the Ministry of Justice. According to officials’ representatives, the minister and her team allegedly engage only with ‘convenient’ social partners, while representatives of organisations that raise ‘uncomfortable’ issues and their proposals are reportedly ignored.
„This stands in stark contrast to the minister’s own public statements. As recently as May, Tamašunienė described officer safety as the top priority, whilst in August the Ministry announced it would seek additional millions of euros for the LKT’s wages. Unfortunately, these have remained nothing more than empty declarations. The system no longer needs them. Nor does it need Ms Tamašunienė any longer. It is time for decisions that would have a tangible impact on the community. Yet, this minister and her team have proven themselves incapable of making and implementing them,“ says Pauliukas.
„If, in almost a year, the minister has failed to show how the penal system will be rescued from the problems that have accumulated over decades, the prime minister must answer whether he still has confidence in this member of his government. We have already given our answer – Rita Tamašunienė no longer has the confidence of officials,“ explains Pauliukas.
Minister disagrees with trade union criticism
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Justice Minister Tamašunienė said she disagreed with the trade unions’ criticism of her over allegedly unresolved problems in the prison sector.
„I view such criticism (from the trade unions – ELTA) very critically, as there is a plan (of action – ELTA). Firstly, annual targets have been set for the head of the Prison Service, and whilst we recognise that there have been significant delays in meeting them, we will be seeking explanations as to why these targets are not being met,“ the minister explained.
She said the ministry is aware of the problems within the penal system and is addressing them, while also seeking ways to increase funding for this area.
„We are working to ensure greater funding, first and foremost for salaries; a consistent increase in pay for all officers under the Internal Service Regulations is indeed provided for in this government’s work and plans,“ stated Tamašunienė.
The minister stressed that she disagrees with criticisms about insufficient social dialogue with trade unions.
Ms Tamašunienė, for her part, pointed out that the trade unions expressing a lack of confidence in her may, in fact, be favourable towards the current head of the LKT, Mr Kairys.
„Dialogue is certainly taking place at ministerial level – we meet with 11 trade unions. Representatives of only two trade unions have voiced this criticism. The relationship these trade unions have with the LKT leadership (...) is different from that of other trade unions. In my view, this is wrong, as the head should treat all social partners equally,“ the minister emphasised.
Proposal to issue a reprimand to the head of the LKT
ELTA reports that the Minister for Justice, Tamašunienė, is proposing a reprimand for the head of the LKT, Kairys. The proposal is to impose the disciplinary measure on the head of the institution in light of the findings of an official investigation, which state that Kairys, by deciding to abolish posts at Kaunas Prison and disregarding the Minister’s order to revoke them, breached the Internal Service Statute and other legislation.
The government must decide on the proposal to issue a reprimand to Kairys.
Back in July of this year, Tamašunienė stated that she had received reports from trade unions that the reform in prisons – during which officers were being transferred from the Security Management Departments to the Resocialisation Departments – was allegedly being carried out by coercive means. At the time, the minister said she had urged the Head of the Prison Service, Kairys, to revoke his decisions, but he reportedly failed to do so.