The inmates of Tegel prison in Berlin have established the world's first prisoners' union, which plans to campaign on issues of minimum wages and pension plans for prisoners.

Inmates in the prison are employed in workshops and kitchens, but not subject to federal minimum wage laws, allowing them to be paid only a maximum of €15 per day. The union wants them to receive the €8.50 per hour that Germany plans to introduce as a minimum in 2015. It has also raised the issue of providing pension schemes for prisoners to prevent those freed in old age from destitution.

The Guardian reports that there has already been friction with the prison authorities who searched the cell of Oliver Rast, a spokesperson for the union, and allegedly confiscated a number of documents relating to the founding of the organisation.

The prison denies it is intimidating the union, but said that it had neglected to alert them when signatures were being collected to establish it.