Unions oppose PTT privatisation plan

Published: 27/01/2012 at 02:52 PM
Online news: Local News

Representatives of the PTT labour union and State Enterprises Labour Confederation of Thailand will next week submit a letter expressing opposition to the plan to privatise PTT Plc to Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, PTT union chairwoman Absorn Krisanasamith said.

Ms Absorn said on Friday that her organisation disagreed with the plan to privatise state enterprises PTT and Thai Airways International Plc because it would affect the general public.

PTT should not be made a private-sector company as it is a state enterprise used for overseeing the country’s energy system, which is also related to national security, she added.

The majority of PTT employees opposed the government’s plan to sell part of its stake in PTT Plc to the Vayupak Fund, lowering its holding to less than 50 per cent to make it a private-sector company, Ms Absorn said.

The government says the move is necessary to lower its public debt account and make it easier to raise loans for flood management and other mega projects.

Criticis argue it's just a book-keeping sleight of hand.

Did you know?

We have videos of daily news summaries & media reports coupled with commenary and analysis of key developments every Weekdays. Watch them all on Morning Focus page.

About the author

: Writer: Online Reporters; Position: Online Reporters

Keep this article in your social bookmark:

Your comments

ginger

Discussion 11 : 28/01/2012 at 11:42 AM11
True it would affect the public as they would get better service and less incompetent managers which are no longer be appointed by their corrupt friends.
from iPhone application.
abbub
Post : 1212
Send message

Discussion 10 : 28/01/2012 at 10:48 AM10
Post this to my Facebook
John D9: With due respect to you and your responsible writing, there has never been real Socialism. Only Fascist state-controlled economies like the SU which claimed to be Socialist. At best a few countries have adapted certain socialist policies like universal health care and minimum income. Those countries, in particular in Europe have benefitted in some ways. Crime rates are extremely low for example. Taxes may be high but when I lived in Sweden during the Social Democrat era I willingly paid, as I saw taxes were being used for public good; for the most part.

Personally I think unless there is a huge and totally unexpected upheaval by people around the globe, Socialism will never evolve because the wealthy power holders have trained and inculcated the police and military with the idea defending freedom and the nation means defending them from the have nots. Te myth that "freedom" and "free market economy" are one and the same.

Unions need to find their strength and use it but at the same time rid themselves of leaders that sell out to those in power or run unions like gangsters. But again highly unlikely and those with the power will play ball and protect the dirty leaders.
johninbkk
Post : 2498
Send message

Discussion 9 : 28/01/2012 at 12:10 AM9
Post this to my Facebook
Another solution would be to raise fuel prices to actually be above the market cost. Or just end the expensive fuel subsidies . . . that would fix the debt issue of PTT. Society will then pay the debt off with inflation. Socialism works fine until you run out of someone else's money.
abbub
Post : 1212
Send message

Discussion 8 : 27/01/2012 at 07:48 PM8
Post this to my Facebook
BKP D7: Basically you are defining Thailand. Selling off though would simply privatize and lead the country more toward neo-capitalism. Capitalism is dying. A new way has to be found. But it will probably not happen since the wealthy and powerful have a from grip and will never willingly let go.

The world is in such utterly insane shape only a planned world economy can save the tens of millions starving and living lives we would not want our lets to live. A genuine form of altruism and collective effort on a worldwide scale needs to happen. And the fascists and super rich they protect are far too ruthless to ever allow people to think beyond nationalistic border, both on t ground and in their minds.
bkposter
Post : 366
Send message

Discussion 7 : 27/01/2012 at 06:28 PM7
Post this to my Facebook
Re: D3 "Privatisation is absolutely NOT the answer. It will just aggravate the situation and allow private individuals to fill their pockets and treat workers and employees like cattle."

Abub Private individuals are filling there pockets from these government enterprises now. The gas company ,the electric company, TOT, CAT,the airlines etc and dozens of others. They are the piggy bank of the Democrat party. Crony-ism and nepotism are absolutely rampant. The directors all wear green uniforms and these places hire all their friends and family and hundreds of unnecessary people to submit a little back to the guy that got them the job. The places are not efficiently run at all and the all offer very poor service and high prices and all are extremely slow to innovate or modernize or improve productivity or service standards.
They should divide them into 3 or 4 parts and sell the parts sell them off and require the companies to compete with each other. The government should only regulate service standards for the public services and not run them.
Silkpit
Post : 79
Send message

Discussion 6 : 27/01/2012 at 06:26 PM6
Post this to my Facebook
I agree not to privatize PTT, but it is ages ago, that TG (Air)and the SRT (Rail) should have been privatized, as their services are substandard, safety records speak for themselves, not transparent (corrupt) and of course the unions wish to live in a state of non efficiency and scheme of seniority forwever.
bikeme
Post : 258
Send message

Discussion 5 : 27/01/2012 at 05:04 PM5
Post this to my Facebook
Of course all of this talk about selling the government holdings, makes one stop and think ... WHO might be buying the government's stake ?? Dare we hazard a guess ?
khunbj
Post : 256
Send message

Discussion 4 : 27/01/2012 at 05:02 PM4
Post this to my Facebook
Of course the Unions oppose privatization ..... and of course it will not affect the general public in any bad way ... get on with it.
abbub
Post : 1212
Send message

Discussion 3 : 27/01/2012 at 04:56 PM3
Post this to my Facebook
Privatisation is absolutely NOT the answer. It will just aggravate the situation and allow private individuals to fill their pockets and treat workers and employees like cattle.

If it is deemed possible to make a profit, then the government cam make that profit too and use it for the public good.

RON D2: State officials will more easily fill their pockets when private individuals slip envelops under the tables!

Capitalism is ready to go bust everywhere. Burning people as witches and letting leeches suck blood are not the cure. They never were.
rontorr
Post : 205
Send message

Discussion 2 : 27/01/2012 at 03:39 PM2
Post this to my Facebook
all companies, especially SRT need to be privatized so they will have to be profitable,. naturally, state officials oppose because they will lose their ability to siphon off funds, and employees will lose their gov't official status

1 2 Next Last

Unions oppose PTT privatisation plan | Bangkok Post: breakingnews