Manager at CA nuclear plant sues over firing, claims whistleblower retaliation

[flamingdem]

The Orange County Register reports that a manager at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station claims he was fired after reporting safety concerns, according to a suit filed today.

According to the suit, a nuclear power watchdog group received in February 2010 calls and emails from workers in the plant regarding shortcuts on testing new generators, safety violations, and a "culture of cover-up." The Nuclear Regulatory Commission then sent a letter to Southern California Edison regarding the "chilling effect" of the work environment at the plant, the suit claims. The letter was to make sure the company encouraged workers to speak up about safety concerns.

The suit claims that when Diaz told his boss, Pamela Panek, about concerns brought to his attention by other employees, he was told not to address the complaints. According to the suit, management also told the employees they should not have talked to him about the problems.

http://www.boingboing.net/2011/03/30/manager-at-ca-nuclea.html

[drm604]

1. But we need to trust that they know what they're doing!

Right?

[flamingdem]

2. Oh yes because nuke power plants safe, just ask our resident experts

.. that is if the people running them aren't corrupt and incompetent as most of them are!

[crickets]

3. A "culture of cover-up."

Oh, but there are all kinds of safety regs and procedures in place. No catastrophic accident ever has or will happen here. Have a banana and relax. :eyes:

http://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear_power/reactor-map/embedded-flash-map.html

[flamingdem]

6. Hava banana, that will be my response to the pro-nuke squadron now! nt

[bananas]

4. Two years ago: problems continue to mount despite unprecedented executive shake-up and year-long...

Posted back in Feb 2009, two years ago:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x188504

San Onofre's Problems Continue
By ELIZABETH DOUGLASS

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009 | Mistakes and management problems continue to mount at the San Onofre nuclear plant, despite an unprecedented executive shake-up and a year-long effort to convince federal regulators and an industry ratings group that things are improving.

<snip>

"We lost all confidence in management being able to guarantee us our safety," Setzler said. "If they can't control the equipment for the safety of the employees, how can they control the equipment for the safety of the public?"

<snip>

[flamingdem]

7. Guess Californians had better stock up on Iodide since Onofre is on shakey grounds

literally and figuratively

[bananas]

5. One year ago: San Onofre workers fear retaliation; Lax safety culture cited at facility

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x240207 and other posts in that thread.
Note the happy-talk by anti-worker pro-nukes.

[flamingdem]

8. Thanks for this! nt