Strike threat eased thanks to Anupong
Written by Admin on Thursday, September 4th, 2008
POLITICS
Strike threat eased thanks to Anupong
Non-violence pledge averts most stoppages
AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK & PENCHAN CHAROENSUTHIPAN
State enterprise unions toned down their threat to go on strike after army chief Anupong Paojinda promised not to use force against anti-government demonstrators. It had been feared the work stoppage would cause widespread disruption across the country.
Although the labour unions of 43 state enterprises had threatened to suspend public services yesterday to pressure Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign, bus, train and airline services were generally operating.
City buses run by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority and inter-provincial buses run by the state-owned Transport Co ran on schedule.
Northern trains resumed service after railway staff took ‘’sick leave” en masse a few days ago.
Most Thai Airways International (THAI) flights ran on schedule, with just one delayed flight, from Bangkok to Phitsanulok, which had a problem with safety confirmation procedures.
Only flights to Hat Yai in Songkhla province were cancelled yesterday, as People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters blocked the road into the airport.
THAI labour union leader Jaemsri Sukchoterat said unions decided against widespread strike action after Gen Anupong, who is overseeing implementation of the emergency decree, promised not to use force against demonstrators.
State enterprise labour unions would delay strike action for three days to see what the government does, she said.
In the meantime, the union leaders would encourage their members to take leave and join the PAD rally at Government House.
Somsak Kosaisuk, a core PAD leader and a leader of the State Railway of Thailand labour union, said the unions’ resolution to go on strike had not been rescinded.
Individual labour unions would consider taking strike action in ways that would not affect the public, especially concerning power and water supply.
Phien Yongnoo, president of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority union, said power to the Interior Ministry and the Defence Ministry would be cut as both ministries had overdue electricity bills of 200-300 million baht.
Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) union members stopped work at Bangkok Port yesterday. There was no strike at PAT’s Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri because the state enterprise has leased out most operations to private companies.
BMTA labour union vice-president Boonma Pongma said 300 to 400 of Bangkok’s 3,000 buses were kept off the road and 30% to 40% of union members joined the PAD demonstration.
About 40% of the 5,600 staff at CAT Telecom also took leave to attend the rally. However, Somboon Sapsan, head of CAT Telecom union, confirmed that staff would not disconnect Thailand’s international communication gateway, to protect the internet, international telephone calls and financial transaction services.
In Nakhon Si Thammarat province, more than 1,000 PAD supporters, mostly local university students, blocked the road to the provincial hall yesterday afternoon to demand Mr Samak’s resignation and an end to the state of emergency.
Joining the rally, Walailak University academic Lertchai Sirichai said the protesters would blockade provincial hall until Mr Samak resigns.
