Subcontract nuclear plant worker speaks out – Demanding improvement of “unspeakably” dangerous conditions

Eighteen months have passed since the disaster of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. More and more subcontract nuclear power plant workers consult with lawyers, being worried for possible damage on their health. According to lawyers of a defense team for nuclear power plant workers, most of the workers hesitate to speak out for fear of their future employment. However, Mr. A (photo. 46 years old) was different. He has been employed by a secondary subcontractor of Kandenko that has close ties with Tokyo Electric Power Company, the operator of the crippled nuclear power plant, working at nuclear power plants for nearly seven years. On October 30, 2012, he requested the Tomioka Labor Standards Inspection Office to correct the violation of the Industrial Safety and Health Act by the TEPCO and Kandenko. On November 1, Mr. A revealed what is going on in nuclear power plants at a press conference at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare together with the defense team members, “We have to do even something ‘suicidal’ in an ‘unspeakably’ dangerous environment”. (MATSUMOTO Chie)

* Photo: Press conference at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on November 1

 下請け原発労働者が声あげる

～「言葉にできないほど」危険な環境の是正を！

福島原発災害が発生して18カ月。下請け多重構造で働く末端の原発労働者が、身の危険を案じて相談に来る件数が増えつつある。日本労働弁護団原発労働プロジェクトチームの弁護士によると、相談に来る労働者はほとんど将来の雇用を心配して声をあげることをためらうという。しかし、Ａさんは違った。関電工の2 次下請けの会社で期限の定めがない契約として７年近く働いていたＡさん（46歳・写真）は、10月30日に東京電力と関電工が労働安全衛生法などを違反したとして、富岡労働基準監督署に是正を申し入れた。11月1日、厚生労働省記者クラブで弁護団とともに報告したＡさんからは、「言葉にできないほど」危険な環境で「自殺行為」とも思われる作業をしなければならない現実が明らかになった。（松元ちえ）