A Hanford union shop steward filed a complaint Friday with the U.S. Department of Labor, charging he was retaliated against for standing by a whistleblower.

Jack Burger filed the complaint against Bechtel Hanford Inc. and Bechtel subcontractor Roy F. Weston Co. Burger worked for Weston for almost 212 years and was Teamsters Local 690's shop steward.

His complaint is related to three complaints filed in the past six months by Teamsters truck driver Matt Taylor against Bechtel and three of its subcontractors, including Weston.

Both men are represented by the Government Accountability Project.

"The bloodbath at Hanford continues, as contractors are engaging in a firing spree following efforts by employees to raise legitimate health and safety concerns. Hanford's so-called 'Safety First' campaign is a hollow joke," said GAP attorney Tom Carpenter in a press release.

Bechtel replied with a written statement, saying Friday's "complaint contains several serious factual inaccuracies, which will be fully exposed by the Department of Labor if (it) chooses to conduct a review. The most serious mistruth concerns the safety of employees. ... We are outraged ourselves with the attention-getting allegations in this complaint. It is a disservice to our employees and our subcontractors who have excellent safety records."

Bechtel investigated the safety matters raised in Burger's complaint, and the company complies with all safety requirements and does not tolerate reprisals against employees, Bechtel's statement said.

Bechtel spokeswoman Sue Kuntz declined to elaborate further. She said this dispute is primarily between Weston and one of its employees, and Bechtel is constrained from discussing litigation in detail.

Hanford was closed Friday, and Weston officials could not be reached for comment. Burger and Carpenter could not be reached for comment beyond the complaint and GAP press release.

Burger's complaint traces its roots to Taylor raising safety complaints regarding carcinogenic polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, in oil inside barrels of uranium chips, of how a truck was loaded, about blowing dust in a contaminated area and about a strange odor at another site. Taylor filed his first complaint last June, which he and the company settled before parting ways.

Taylor's second and third complaints - filed Nov. 7 and Nov. 17 - were against Bechtel and its subcontractors RCI Environmental and R.W. Stephens Environmental, charging serial retaliation because he raised safety concern. The alleged retaliation consisted derogatory graffiti, being yelled at, receiving sarcastic comments, losing a Teamster driving job after 10 days with RCI and being shut out of a job with R.W. Stephens. Taylor's complaints charge that other Teamster drivers got jobs on the same days he was told no work was available. Burger's complaint said he stood by Taylor when he raised his concerns and protested the retaliation. His complaint charged that as shop steward he was also the subject of derogatory graffiti and supervisors yelling at him because of his stances. Burger charged some supervisors told him to stop talking to Taylor.

Burger's complaint charged that the brake lines were cut Aug. 11 in the truck assigned to him, and he did not know that until he started to drive. The complaint said Weston did not find the person responsible for the cut brake lines. Burger also alleged Weston's management blamed him Sept. 28 for orchestrating an earlier work stoppage, which his complaint denied. Additional information on this work stoppage was unavailable Friday.

After being slightly injured Oct. 1, Burger was placed on light duty, which was Weston's normal practice. Information on the injury was unavailable Friday.

His complaint said Burger was placed on unpaid leave Oct. 29, alleging that was retaliation for his support of Taylor. A federal labor department investigation usually takes about 30 days, according to the agency's Seattle office.

Burger and Taylor seek unspecified punitive and compensatory damages, ability to return to their jobs and promises of no reprisals.