strike notice on February 28 against the planned disappearance of the Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety

They want “show their opposition to the reform project”. The employees of the Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), which issues independent scientific opinions on the state of the power plants, will be on strike on February 28 against the disappearance of their institute planned by the government, announced the inter-union, Wednesday February 22. Within IRSN, CFDT, CFE-CGC and CGT “file a strike notice” in this sense, specifies a press release from the inter-union.

In the midst of the revival of French civil nuclear power and its main operator, EDF, the government unveiled on February 8 its intention to abolish IRSN, watchdog and expert in radiological risk, adding that it was a question of “streamlining the examination process”. According to the project, experts, technicians and scientists from the Institute would join the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), and those of the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA).

Demonstration in front of the ministry

Staff members, many of whom say they are shocked by the “brutality” of the announcement, led a day of strike on Monday, with a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Energy Transition in Paris.

The government intends to go through an amendment to the bill on the acceleration of nuclear power, which must be tabled on February 28. The final vote is expected in mid-March in the National Assembly, according to the unions. They are based on the calendar provided to them by the Minister for Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher.