Strike halts all SRT trains

Published: 22/06/2009 at 10:21 AM
Online news: Transport

The labour union of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) began a nationwide strike on Monday in protest against the state enterprise's restructuring plan.

Labour union president Sawit Kaewwan said all SRT employees had stopped working, halting all rail services across the country.

The employees oppose the SRT's plan to allow a private company to manage the operation, he said.

The labour union had previously submitted a proposal to the SRT board on ways to improve organisation and solve debt problems. The board's privatisation plan would lead to higher fares, he said.

Mr Sawit said the duration of the nationwide strike would depend on negotiations with the government and SRT governor Yutthana Thapcharoen.

"The length of our strike depends on how quickly the government and SRT management meet our demands," he said. "We disagree with the restructuring plan because it looks like a step towards privatisation."

Mr Yutthana said he was informed of the strike plan on Sunday night. He thought some groups of employees might not understand the purpose of the restructuring plan. He would meet Mr Sawit for talks on Tuesday at 3pm.

Negotiations were possible, but railway employees must not inconvenience the public, he said.

The governor insisted the restructuring plan would not mean the privatision of the state enterprise, which would set up two companies to oversee its assets and the Airport Link rail project.

Train travellers can call the SRT hotline at 1690 for assistance, he said.

Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum said free public bus services were being provided at the stations where trains had come to a halt in various provinces.

The minister said he had no problems with the labour union making its feelings known, but the members must abide by the procedures of the SRT.

He was willing to listen to the union's suggestions.

The SRT has lost money since it sinception in 1951. Its overall debt is now 69 billion baht.

About the author

Writer: BangkokPost.com

Keep this article in your social bookmark:

Latest stories in this category:

Share your thoughts

For more candid, lengthy, conversational and open discussion between one another, use our Forum

Report objectionable comments click here. Include: discussion #, commenter name, comment date / time as it looks on the page. Example: discussion 15: 09/01/2009 at 10:00 AM.

Bandung

Discussion 10 : 23/06/2009 at 02:19 AM10
I told you that SRT employees don't care who are the PM. Just do for thier benefit,,,,,............. Thuksin, protest Thuksin..Apisit, protest Apisit........ just simple reason for only thier benefit............
David

Discussion 9 : 23/06/2009 at 02:07 AM9
The strikers should be given an ultimatum. Get back to work and to the rules or they are dismissed with no chance of returning to work for the SRT. There are many people out there looking for jobs who would jump at the opportunity of working for a reformed SRT.
boohoo

Discussion 8 : 23/06/2009 at 12:23 AM8
Say what you will about Thai trains, they are still better than Amtrak in the US. All of my experiences on SRT have been pleasant, generally running on time, clean, and civilized company.

Of course there is always room for improvement and the workers should be treated better - but compared to Thai education, elections, and city traffic - the trains are a pretty decent operation.
Geckomanz

Discussion 7 : 22/06/2009 at 10:05 PM7
The SRT's trains have been always late since I was born, they NEVER reach the destination on time! The carriages were full of pests, especially roaches. I support this idea but the gov should take a special care of privatization.
Andy

Discussion 6 : 22/06/2009 at 07:47 PM6
Why is there no ballot. How do we know this is what the workers want to do and not just the union bosses pushing them around?
I thought these people wanted democracy seems like it is only when its convenient.
Wombat

Discussion 5 : 22/06/2009 at 07:34 PM5
SRT represents the whole country; it's off the rails.
aussiebob

Discussion 4 : 22/06/2009 at 03:09 PM4
Another great inept operation by this government. They can not even negotiate with people who are supposed to be their friends. It is easy to be in the opposition and have a big mouth and be supported by thugs but not so easy when you get into government and you have to act to make the economy to work.
Johnny Farang

Discussion 3 : 22/06/2009 at 02:23 PM3
how the heck can they have US$2,000,000,000 in debt AND have such crappy trains? Sounds like privatization is necessary, if only to keep the corruption down. Geez. I could probably build a brand new railway for that much money.
Martin

Discussion 2 : 22/06/2009 at 11:48 AM2
SRT needs modernizing now.
Most of its regular stock is over 30 years old.
Lets hear it for a mega project to

Move Terminus to Bangsue
double track all lines
ensure high speed safety lines
electrify
extra lines:
Phuket
Aranyaprathet-Ho Chi Minh
a reasonable commuter service on the lines around Bangkok
a green competitor for air

oh wait, i forgot, i'm in Thailand.
UPGRADE PLEASE

Discussion 1 : 22/06/2009 at 11:04 AM1
It's not surprising that teh SRT employees have reacted in this way and they are entitled to be afraid of loss of employment etc.

However, the SRT canoot / must not be allowed to continue in it's current picture. It is unaccepatble to see a major piece of infrastructure continue to operate 40 years behind the times.

It's time for change. If there is a need for re-traiing etc., then that must be a part of taking the SRT into a totally new picture.

Major change is difficult and the failure rate is high.

In many major change projects the main barrier management itself. SRT should look at the wealth of valuable and insightful data and learning which exists across the world in regard to the reasons for failure and for success in major change.

Continuing the status quo is surely not an option.

Let's be honest, all the governments for the last thirty years should have taken continuous actions to ensure the SRT developed into a modern hi-tech railway enterprise, with comfortable state of the art engines and carriages & highly attractive to passengers, and to freight operators. Also many other items of major important national infrastructure should also have been continuosly developed so that we would not see the disgraceful picture we see today.

Strike halts all SRT trains