Rail union sues SRT chief

Published: 22/10/2009 at 02:37 PM
Online news: Breakingnews

The leader of the railway union Sawit Kaeowan on Thursday filed charges with police against the governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), Yutthana Thapcharoen, for dereliction of duty.

Mr Sawit, accompanied by about 20 members of the railway union board, accused Mr Yutthana of breaching the employment contract between the SRT and the union. The contract stipulates that all rail equipment, including locomotives, must be in good and serviceable condition, he said.

He also presented a copy of the contract as evidence.

The union alleges that equipment that was in poor condition led to the train derailment in Prachuap Khiri Khan province that killed eight people and injured 88 others on Oct 5.

Mr Sawit said the union has no policy to ask its members to go on strike. The reason staff had stopped since Friday was out of concern for the safety of passengers, as they do not want to operate locomotives poor repair.

"If we have to choose between causing people inconvenience and making sure they are safe, we will choose their safety every time," he said.

"Equipment that is in disrepair should not be in use, or more accidents will happen."

He reiterated that that the management of the SRT and Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum must take responsibility if anything happens to passengers who travel on board trains that misfunction.

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thai1932

Discussion 1 : 22/10/2009 at 04:22 PM1
We could agree with most of the reasons Mr. Sawit Kaeowan mentioned about inadequate and unsafe operational condition. However, abandoning the trains, in the middle of NOWHERE and leaving all passengers with out considering all adverse and hardship they faced, is LIKELY an act of revenge on the firing of the overworked train engineer that caused eight deaths and many injuries.

Having that said, the followed work stoppage of the current southern route Train operators and engineers is within their agreement contract with the SRT. And the Right of the Union to take this action, due to unsafe environment of operation, by taking the SRT to court, belongs to them.

The court ought to set a standard in the ruling for future disputes. And that's the wayDemocracy should be, giving that the court is IMPARTIAL.

thai1932

Discussion 1 : 22/10/2009 at 04:22 PM1

We could agree with most of the reasons Mr. Sawit Kaeowan mentioned about inadequate and unsafe operational condition. However, abandoning the trains, in the middle of NOWHERE and leaving all passengers with out considering all adverse and hardship they faced, is LIKELY an act of revenge on the firing of the overworked train engineer that caused eight deaths and many injuries.

Having that said, the followed work stoppage of the current southern route Train operators and engineers is within their agreement contract with the SRT. And the Right of the Union to take this action, due to unsafe environment of operation, by taking the SRT to court, belongs to them.

The court ought to set a standard in the ruling for future disputes. And that's the wayDemocracy should be, giving that the court is IMPARTIAL.

Rail union sues SRT chief