Cabinet to consider rail union’s proposals

Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum said on Tuesday morning he would take the proposals put forward by the labour union of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to the meeting of the cabinet for consideration Tuesday.

“The outcome of the consideration will depend on the cabinet. The demand by the SRT union that the cabinet resolution on SRT rehabilitation plan be revoked is not possible, as it would be a violation of the law,” Mr Sohpon said.

The minister said the restructuring plan would directly benefit the SRT as the government would shoulder all the debt and investment costs in the future. There would be no privatisation of the SRT as some people fear.

Mr Sohpon said he was a little suspicious about the position of the SRT union because it had taken no earlier action on this issue, but had suddenly staged a nationwide work stoppage without any prior notice.

While he had no idea whether the move was politically motivated, he believed there must be some motive behind it.