As prison staff go on strike in Haren and Lantin this Wednesday, the VSOA Prisons trade union has promised that their action will not block the transfer of suspects in the ongoing terror attacks trial. They have, however, left it in the hands of the prison management.
On Wednesday, officers from the Haren and Lantin are going on strike, as unions protest the Federal Government's decision to postpone a salary raise for prison staff, as well as their meal vouchers.
Furthermore, they also want to highlight the porous working conditions at the new Haren prison, which "was opened too early, that's no secret," according to Stijn Van den Abeele of the VSOA Prisons union.
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However, this has raised worries about the transfer of defendants in the current terror attacks trial, in which 10 individuals are accused of having plotted and planned the March 2016 bombings in Brussels.
Given that prison employees must transport the suspects to trial, Van den Abeele attempted to alleviate fears by vowing not to obstruct the transfer. Nevertheless, he did add that "it is up to management to evaluate whether this will be possible from a security standpoint."
