Judicial officials threaten strike for lack of commitments in OE2027

O Judicial Officials Union (SFJ) expressed disappointment at the proposal for a State Budget for 2027 (OE2027), criticised the lack of concrete commitments to value these workers and again threatened with strike.

“For other careers of Justice, the government presented quantified recruitment and promotion commitments. The SFJ welcomes this appreciation, which these professionals deserve, and requires equal clarity for the officials of justice. The Ministry of Justice has to respond to the needs of all careers that ensure the functioning of the judicial system ", reads in the statement released today.

For the SFJ, the reference to valuing the career of officials of justice is vague and “does not answer the essential questions” that the union wants to see answered, namely when and how many professionals will be recruited and when promotion contests will be opened, stressing that the lack of judicial officers compromises the functioning of Justice.

For the SFJ, “disillusion is the result of the distance between the commitment to value the career and the absence of concrete answers about its execution”, stressing that there is “effective execution” to the recent diploma on tickets and career promotions.

Over the coming month, of discussion in the specialty by the OE2027 parliament, the SFJ wants “a recruitment plan for 2027, with number of admissions, funding and timing of entry into office”, as well as urgent promotion and leadership competitions.

Among the demands is also the completion of the revision of the statutes, with “serious negotiation and scheduled commitments”.

“The SFJ will take these demands to the Government and all parliamentary groups. In the absence of concrete answers, it will consider new forms of struggle, including strike, within the framework of the decisions of its competent bodies”, reads in the statement.

The union states that the bailiffs “do not accept another year of commitments without execution” and states on the proposal of the OE2027, that “finds funds to modernise justice”, that “misses to realize when you will find a solution for those who make it work every day”.

The Justice budget for 2027 exceeds EUR 2.1 billion, with total consolidated expenditure rising by 9.3% to EUR 2,128.4 million, the majority for staff expenditure.

According to the document, almost two thirds of expenditure (EUR 1,355.6 million) is with staff, following the acquisition of goods and services, with EUR 422.9 million, mainly for the current activity of the Institute of Financial Management and Justice Equipment (IGFEJ) (209.6 million), the Directorate General for Reintegration and Prison Services (67 million) and the Directorate General for the Administration of Justice (49,8 million).

The proposal also provides for investments of EUR 155.7 million, of which EUR 58 million is to “finance works and/or construction in buildings of the Ministry of Justice (tribunals, prisons, premises of the Judicial Police, among others)” and EUR 43.3 million for this police force, “intended for the requalification of buildings, operational facilities and technological modernization”.

The Government delivered the proposal for OE2027 to the Assembly of the Republic on Thursday.

The budget proposal foresees an economic growth of 2.3% this year and 2.1% in 2027 and balanced accounts this year and a surplus of 0.1% in 2027.

The proposal will be discussed and voted on in general between 27 and 28 October. The overall final vote is scheduled for November 24, after the discussion process in the specialty.