fluorescent light won't work unless?

Dunno about the microwave leaving 'RF'. The woman dose not know what she is talking about.

The reason is simple... the microwave pulls a lot of current, and this causes a momentary voltage drop. The spike as the voltage rises again fires the starter to ignite.

Change the starter and all will be well.

XX

Try it again by plugging a hair dryer into the same outlet as the light... when you turn the hair dryer on high does the bulb light up? If so, then it is the voltage spike explanation. If it doesn't, but it still lights when the microwave is turned on then there is a good possibility that the microwave does have an RF leak and it is dangerous.

Regardless, your light fixture has a bad ballast transformer unless it's a standard incandescent base fixture with compact flourescent bulb, in which case, the bulb is bad.

Just when I thought I've heard it all, you provide me with this. First, have you tried that lamp any place else and in a different socket? If it works elsewhere, you may have a wall socket problem in the kitchen. I've known that the RFs' from a fluorescent ballast may cause interferance with other products, but not the other way around. Bring it back to Wal-Mart or the other big box store you bought it from and get a refund or exchange.

It could be dangerous, as it indicates that your microwave is "leaking" RF; and that CAN affect your health if the leakage is large enough.

If the lamp has a starter it needs a new one.