Forum fails to sway rail staff

TRANSPORT REFORM

A forum on State Railway of Thailand restructuring plans has failed to win over staff.

The SRT union and most railway staff yesterday stood by their objection to the changes, saying they could leave members without work and were designed to further a secret privatisation agenda.

The SRT yesterday held a forum to allow staff to air their views on the restructuring plans, approved in principle by the government last month.

The changes will split the railway agency into two subsidiaries, in charge of operations and assets management.

The operations division will be divided into several units, including one to run the Airport Rail Link.

The most worrying issue for union members is the airport rail project connecting Bangkok with Suvarnabhumi airport. It was debated at the forum yesterday.

The SRT plans to recruit new staff, from executives to drivers, to run the project.

SRT governor Yutthana Thapcharoen said the agency also welcomed those who want to transfer to the airport rail line. Most staff, however, are still opposed to the changes.

SRT union leader Sawit Kaewwan said rail staff believed they could run the Airport Rail Link themselves and did not need outside help.

He said the plan to split the SRT into two subsidiaries was really designed to prepare SRT for sale.

Mr Yuthana said staff from all departments and the labour union had been invited to join another forum on SRT reform.

The SRT will gather all suggestions before proposing a revised reform plan to the government for approval.

Last month the government ordered the SRT to work on details including reactions from staff.

The SRT hopes the Airport Rail Link project can start on Dec 5. But its main concern now is that opposition by staff - who have already held one nationwide train stoppage to protest against the changes - could delay the plan.