Prison officers seek 100 more posts as overtime hits record

Prison officers in Styria are demanding 100 additional staff positions as overtime reaches record levels, ORF reports. The union is seeking 10 posts for Leoben prison, 40 for Graz-Karlau prison and 50 for Graz-Jakomini prison.

As part of an action week in the justice system, staff meetings are scheduled at the three prisons from 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Union chairman Stefan Jud said the prisons could keep operating only through extensive overtime. Graz-Jakomini recorded 23,800 overtime hours in 2025, while Graz-Karlau recorded 19,900.

Jud said staffing levels had not increased for almost 20 years, affecting security. With too few officers to supervise workshops and leisure activities, prisoners often have to remain in their cells. Graz-Jakomini is operating at 122% capacity, he said, with no beds or cells available and rising problems involving aggression and hostility among inmates.

The union warned that a major wave of retirements in the coming years would worsen the situation. Although 127 positions have been advertised, the Justice Ministry says there has been little interest. Jud disputed that, saying many people who have completed prison officer training are waiting to be hired, but there are not enough authorised positions to take them on.