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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... Latest Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| NOVEMBER 24, 1998 6:02 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Union of Concerned Scientists Rich Hayes, Press Secretary (202) 332-0900, rhayes@ucsusa.org |
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| Nuke Plant Owner Silences Whistleblower: Action May Impede Other Employee Safety Concerns | ||||
| WASHINGTON - November 24 - The
removal of a shift foreman who questioned plant safety has prompted the Union of Concerned
Scientists to file a petition with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission requesting an
independent review of whether the owner of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant allows
employees to openly voice safety concerns. Neil Aiken, who has two decades' experience and holds a senior reactor operator's license, raised concerns about the safe operation of the plant at a stockholders' meeting. The plant owner's response was to order a psychiatric evaluation of Aiken in which company doctors diagnosed him as suffering from a mental health problem. Aiken was then removed from his duties at the plant and has filed a complaint with the US Department of Labor. "The plant's action against Aiken is a clear example to other employees of the treatment afforded those raising safety issues," said Dave Lochbaum, Nuclear Safety Engineer for UCS. Aiken is highly regarded for his integrity and job expertise as evidenced by a vote of confidence signed by more than 40 of his coworkers. And it appears that Aiken's plight may not be an isolated incident. Diablo Canyon's owners recently settled a complaint that involved charges of harassment and intimidation of a worker raising safety issues. Today's petition, which UCS submitted to the NRC on behalf of the San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace and the Project on Liberty and the Workplace, requests that the NRC modify the operating licenses for Diablo Canyon Units 1 and 2 to require the licensee to have an independent contractor evaluate the safety culture at the facility. The contractor should survey a majority of plant workers about their willingness to voice safety concerns. "We are asking the NRC to ensure that the plant does not equate sanity with silence," Lochbaum said. "This survey should be conducted to ascertain whether Diablo Canyon's safety culture is conducive to employees raising safety issues without fear of retaliation." ### |
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