20.08.2008 Lauri Myllyvirta

Finnish Broadcasting company YLE has yesterday revealed that both official and unofficial rules have prevented workers at Olkiluoto 3 construction site from reporting safety and quality problems to inspectors, let alone to media. This practice was labeled as the "Olkiluoto code of Silence".

This new scandal comes on the heels of revelations last week, that basic safety procedures have not been followed in Olkiluoto 3 construction project.

Below is a complete transcript of the reportage.

The omerta of Olkiluoto - why are nuclear workers not allowed to talk?
Weekly current affairs program Ajankohtainen kakkonen
Broadcasted by YLE Channel 2 in Finland.
Tue Aug 19, 2008, 21:00
Transcript

[omerta is the code of silence of Italian mafia]

Last Tuesday we had startling news from Olkiluoto. Welding guidelines and supervision of the French contractor have been severely inadequate. In addition, at the largest construction site in Finland, a kind of “Olkiluoto code of silence” prevails. The contractor does not allow employees to talk about any affairs at the construction site, especially not about quality problems and especially not to reporters.

Last week, the minister of economic affairs Mauri Pekkarinen, asked the Finnish Nuclear safety Authority STUK to find out if the code of silence really exists. A response from STUK is still in the works but our reporter Juha Granath already knows how things stand.

---

Minister of economic affairs Mauri Pekkarinen wants STUK to investigate, whether workers at the nuclear construction site are allowed to speak about the problems of the project. The minister got interested in employees’ freedom of speech after this interview aired last week:

Interviewer: I have a document where Bouygues’ management forbids their employee from telling you or Areva about anything that has taken place at the construction site, threatening him with an official warning.
Martin Landtman, Head of OL3 project in TVO: I would be very eager to see that document.
Interviewer: I have it here.
Landtman: I would be very eager to see it. This does not happen at a nuclear construction site.
[The document is handed over to Landtman]
Landtman: I will not read it here. I will have to look at it separately. I cannot comment on it straight away.

The management of the French company Bouygues, who are constructing the reactor building in Olkiluoto, sent the letter in question to its head union steward Seppo Ruokolainen last autumn.

[an email shown on the screen reading “if I see you send something to areva or tvo you will receive an official warning. Regards, F de Malherbe.”]

Interviewer: Bouygues’ management was surprised that you handed information to Areva and TVO. What was did the information pertain to?
Ruokolainen: Employees’ wages, vacation pays, compensations for shorter working hours, wage payment periods and confidentiality requirements.

About a dozen employees of Bouygues’ subcontractor Rimec told about their working conditions at Ajankohtainen Kakkonen in the beginning of April. April 24, after the TV program, a meeting on confidentiality rules was held in Olkiluoto. Present were management of the Areva-led CFS consortium, that supplies the Olkiluoto 3 power plant, management of Bouygues, and head union steward Ruokolainen.

Ruokolainen: I was told in the meeting, that I am not, under any conditions, allowed to give any interviews or information to outsiders.

The minutes of the meeting were written by secretary Laura Myllys and they state, inter alia, that “Remi Senac from CFS gave Ruokolainen a serious warning on the basis of the confidentiality rule. Confidentiality is based on contracts between CFS and the subcontractors. A permission needs to be obtained from CFS and TVO beforehand for relaying any information outside the construction site. This requirement is especially strict concerning reporters.”

Interviewer: This document states that “a permission needs to be obtained from CFS and TVO beforehand for relaying any information outside the construction site”. Is this true?
Landtman: It is not so. We have, well, then, of course, practical routines agreed with the supplier of the plant (Areva). Our and their press people meet at regular intervals and go through these things, what kinds of things need to be negotiated beforehand.
Interviewer: Are the French now intimidating their employees in the name of TVO?
Landtman: No, I don’t see it, every country has their own culture on how to deal with these things…
Interviewer: We are now in Finland.
Landtman: If we start saying that the French should act and think like we do in Finland, it leads nowhere. This is an international project.
Interviewer: We are now in Finland. When in Rome, do as the Romans do?
Landtman: Of course in Finland, we abide by the laws and practices in place here. And this is how we do.

In the minutes of the meeting held in April, it is also noted that the four Polish workers who appeared in Ajankohtainen Kakkonen are given an official warning. The reason: relaying information without permission from the employer.

Ruokolainen: Confidentiality is required in our work contract but my understanding is that it applies to trade secrets and such things, not problems with the employer.

In last May, this document on confidentiality was issued. It states, in four languages, e.g. that “it cannot be allowed to anyone and hence no one should discuss any aspects of the project or spread in any form (written, photos, email etc…) to anyone outside the construction site.”

Interviewer: Where have you seen this document?
Ruokolainen (holding the document in his hands): This has been delivered to me personally because I am a union steward, and in addition this has been posted on bulletin boards at the construction site for the employees to read.
Interviewer: Are you aware of, or have you personally witnessed, any occasions in which representatives of Bouygues would have forbidden, e.g. orally, their employees to tell TVO or Areva about quality problems that have occurred at the site?
Ruokolainen: Among other things, when I was working in the field myself, as a foreman, employees had discussed about how to perform this work, and a Finnish supervisor [not a Bouygues employee] had heard that discussion, and word had been passed on to Bouygues. Then I was reprimanded and we were unconditionally banned from talking to Areva or TVO supervisors about problems related to work.
Interviewer: A representative of Bouygues banned that?
Ruokolainen: Yes.
Interviewer: When did this happen?
Ruokolainen: This happened in 2006, but I have after that heard, on an occasion, about new such bans.
Interviewer: On an occasion or on many occasions?
Ruokolainen: On a few occasions.

[workers in overalls marching away from construction site]
Last Friday, Olkiluoto security guards took Miroslav Sinkiewicz, who told about his working conditions in Olkiluoto to Ajankohtainen Kakkonen last Spring, from his working place and out of the construction site. He had been fired already in the beginning of August. Dozens of Poles suspended work.

Bernard Popiel, union steward, Rimec Contracting LTD: We are protesting against laying off Simkiewicz without grounds. He was told the reason for firing now, a couple of days ago, in my presence. The reason was said to be that he is interfering in others’ business.

[outside the gate in Olkiluoto]
Security guard: Shut down the cameras. You are not allowed to shoot here. Leave the area. No shooting here. Hurry up now.