The World's Nuclear Workers have been forced, wether we liked it or not, to become one of the more highly politicized labour forces of modern times. We are faced with two challenges, which are unusual for trade unionists.

The first challenge relates to the lack of understanding of our industry by the general public. We shall respond with explanations, dialogue, open-mindedness, and patience.

The second challenge we have to face is that of extremist environmentalist movements, whose final objective is to deprive us of our jobs.

We shall respond by fighting. Working as we do at the "fuel face", we can claim that we have plenty of first-hand experience and a certain expertise, especially in understanding the effectiveness of health and safety measures. We believe that the people best equipped to make the case for the future of the nuclear industry are those who earn their living from it and live with it i.e. nuclear workers and their communities. Our struggle does not limit itself to defending nuclear energy alone. What is actually at stake is the social model we want to promote. We shall not let a minority of irresponsible fanatics impose upon a society timorously anchored in the past, and condemned to the endless development of misery. What we want is the democratic adoption of a society willing to face the future, where technical progress would be used reasonably, and would help the available wealth to grow.

We, nuclear workers, not only aim at safeguarding the future of the nuclear power industry, but are willing to play our part in establishing a World Energy Policy, which we believe is vital to the future well-being of all the entire world population. We believe that the reasonnable use of nuclear power is the foundation upon which it is possible to establish the social, economic and ecological conditions that will protect our environment and allow us to tackle the great problems of poverty and unemployment that exist throughout the world. We believe in our nuclear industry and in the great contribution it has already made. We believe that it has an even greater contribution to make in the future.

We are workers, and we have a right to a voice in the decision-making which affects our industry and which concerns our communities. We have also a duty to our fellow workers and to the wider community, who are entitled to work for a World with safe sources of energy, in a safe environment, and with a sound social and economic future.

We intend to exercise our rights and do our duty.

Pr André Maïsseu
Chairman