The countdown begins. Employees of the Fessenheim nuclear power plant threaten to disobey and not apply the shutdown procedures for the N.1 reactor, which must be definitively put out of service overnight Friday to Saturday even if others judge that it would be "Unthinkable," we learned Thursday evening from concordant sources.
"There is a form of discontent that could be expressed like that," said a long-time employee, who does not wish to be identified. "A shift team, made up of ten to fifteen people" must initiate around 8:30 p.m. the shutdown process of the N.1 reactor, also told AFP a union source within the plant.
"It will be a very difficult moment for them, nobody wants to be behind" the shutdown of the reactor or "be part of the team" behind this action. "It's a close-knit team" and "everyone will then face their responsibilities".
"It hurts guts"
"For all shift personnel, this night of shutdown of the N.1 reactor, making the gestures to decouple it definitively will be something very difficult to live with," said the source. "To say whether some agents really will refuse to do so is a personal initiative for which I cannot speak out," continues this source, stressing that the unions advise employees "to do their work until the end, not to not be subject to criminal sanctions ”.
"There is also the fact that we would like more recognition, there is an absence of taking into account the aspirations of employees, we want better conditions for reclassification," adds another employee. However, such disobedience is "absolutely unthinkable," according to another source within the plant.
"There are mood swings, discontent, heartache, yes: nobody wants to disconnect this safe, profitable reactor ... There is a huge emotion, but at the same time everyone does their job . It is a matter of honor. The job will be done and done well. Everyone will follow orders, ”says the latter employee.
"It hurts your guts, it hurts your heart, but you are dealing with people who live with procedures, with rules, and who are very respectful of these procedures. It is unthinkable, unthinkable that the law should not be respected, ”he concludes.
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Alsace: What does the shutdown of the reactors at the Fessenheim plant mean?
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