PM wants quick end to rail strike

The government will take quick action to end the railway workers' strike in the South, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Monday.

But striking drivers showed no indication of bending.

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) labour union has halted all train services in the South, citing the need to repair old locomotives to ensure passengers' safety.

Their action has stranded thousands of travellers, with the SRT estimating lost revenue from passenger and freight services at 15 million baht a day.

The prime minister said SRT executives had decided to solve this problem in the short run by asking other staff to work temporarily as train drivers.

The cabinet meeting on Tuesday would consider Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum's proposals to ensure a resumption of  southern train operations. He expected all trains would be running again in one or two days.

The union has threatened to extend industrial action and close down Bangkok's Hua Lamphong central train station if the government penalises railway staff who went on strike. Mr Abhisit said negotiations would be unlikely if they were found to be in the wrong in the first place.

"The government will see whether the problem stems from conflict between the SRT labour union members and executives, or from their concern for people's safety. The investigation will be carried out straight-forwardly," Mr Abhisit said.

Mr Sohpon echoed the same message and also vowed to end the rail strike in a day or two.

Retired train staff would be put back to work as drivers to replace those who had taken leave and caused the suspension of south-bound rail services, he said.

He would also ask 121 temporary staff who graduated from the railway engineering school to work temporarily as train drivers.

The minister said he was still looking into related laws and regulations on the possibility of putting this in action.

Mr Sohpon called on railway union to end the strike, comply with rules and regulations and listen to the opinions of all concerned.

Transport permanent secretary Sopote Saplom said after a meeting on measures to help people affected by the strike that buses were being arranged to take stranded passengers to their destinations and they would be provided with food and drinks.

SRT governor Yutthana Thapcharoen said trains in other parts of the country were operating as usual. Some South-bound trains were still running to Surat Thani.

He said  241 out of the 2,200 train staff all over the country had taken leave.

On Monday, the State Railway of Thailand filed a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division against the striking locomotive drivers.

It was lodged by Virat Chantharat, chief of the Legal Investigation Division. He attached to the complaint two CDs containing pictures of the drivers staging a work stoppage.

Mr Virat said the damage from work stoppages at Hat Yai, Thung Song and Pak Nam Pho railway stations, amounted to about 15 million baht per day in lost revenues.

Moreover, a company that hired the SRT to deliver cargoes from the South to Laem Chabang sea port in Chon Buri was about to sue the SRT because the goods had not reached their destination. A committee would be set up to investigate this matter. Those who were found at fault would be liable to punishment, he said.

On the drivers' claim that train locomotives were in disrepair, he said the SRT engineering staff had confirmed that they were in working condition and the were still being used  on the northern and northeastern routes.

Mr Virat said the strike had badly damaged the SRT's reputation.

"Action must be taken against those who have  broken regulations. Those found at fault must take the responsibility," he said.

Suan Dusit Rajabhat University released the results of a public survey  about the strike. The poll found that nearly three out of every four people disagree with the rail union's decision to go on strike over its conflict with the management.

The pollsters surveyed 1,064 people in Bangkok and nearby provinces on Oct 18 and 19.

They said 73.07 per cent of respondents disagreed with the union's action, saying that it should  have instead  submitted a protest letter, while 12.36 per cent supported the rail workers and 14.61 per cent had no comment.

Those who agreed said it was the only way to get the management to pay serious attention to the problems.

Asked whether it was reasonable for the rail union to have cited locomotives in disrepair as a reason to  efuse to drive hem until they had been completely repaired, 50.54 per cent  answered "no", 32.97 per cent said "yes", and 16.49 per cent did not comment.

Those who answered "no" said the union should have informed the public in advance of their intention to stop work. Those who said "yes" said that all locomotives should in good condition.

Asked whether the rail strike was political, 32.72 per cent said "yes", 25.41 per cent "no", and 41.87 per cent were uncertain.

On ways of solving the dispute, 33.16 per cent said the two sides in conflict should quickly open negotiations and resume train services, 27.29 per cent said the SRT governor should come out to explain the problem to the public, 22.80 per cent said the SRT should be completely overhauled, 10.72 per cent said the government should intervene as soon as possible, and 6.03 per cent said the private sector should run train services.