Gaybutton Posted August 28, 2008 Posted August 28, 2008 Apparently this will last at least two days, but nothing in either article says how long this will really go on. It may only be just the a couple days or it may be a lot longer than that. I have no idea. The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Trains to Stop Nationwide as SRT Unionists Join Protest Train services are expected to come to a halt tomorrow morning (Friday, August 29) as part of the protests against the government by employees of the State Railway Authority. A 45-year-old SRT worker in Nakhon Si Thammarat said the unionists have coordinated with SRT workers nationwide to carry out the civil disobedience against the government. He said officials in charge of train services, such as drivers and engineers have submitted their leaves since Thursday. He said trains that leave main stations will stop at the first sub-station, and thus will block all the routes and paralyze the services nationwide. The Nation ____________________ And this, from the BANGKOK POST: _____ Trains Halt BangkokPost.com Railway workers on Thursday began a sick-out and announced that all train service to the North and Northeast will halt at midnight on Friday, causing disruption to commuters and tourists to support the anti-government actions in Bangkok. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) union, in an announcement late on Thursday said employees "are not ready to work," a move that will cause severe problems for workers and foreign visitors, as well as movement of goods. Latest reports say train services from Taphan Hin in Pichit would stop at 5am on Friday. The chairman of the SRT’s labour union in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Sathorn Sinpru, said almost 100 engine drivers, usherettes and repairmen have taken sick leave for at least two days, reasoning that they are not happy with their work. He said if they are still not ready to work after two days, the sick-out could prolong as their performance could cause dangers. Members of the SRT’s labour union took part in the mass rally led by the anti-government People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) at Government House. The reason behind the SRT’s halt of operation could be the government’s provision of free transport for the protesters who wish to return home. As of Thursday evening, five scheduled trains from Bangkok to the Northeast failed to leave the station, deputy governor of the SRT Thawin Sarmnakorn said in a television interview. Mr Thawin said he has ordered substitutes to replace the staff who have taken leave, but the number of the substitutes is inadequate for all the services to fully operate. He added that he plans to hold talk with SRT staff on Friday to prevent the suspension of train services in other regions. The discontinuation of rail services will first of all affect more than 1,000 Ayutthaya workers who depend on the train to get to work in Bangkok every morning. Quote
Gaybutton Posted August 29, 2008 Author Posted August 29, 2008 The following appears in THE NATION: _____ National Railway Strike Looms as Union Suspends Most Services By The Nation Published on August 29, 2008 Railway union workers have staged a strike to show support for the protestors at the Government House, starting with a rail service stoppage at the Nakhon Rachasima in the Northeast and Nakhon Sawan in the North. Sathorn Sinpru, leader of the railway union at the State Railway of Thailand at Nakhon Rachasima, said yesterday that more than 100 members of the union, including 40 train drivers, submitted their leave starting at 5:00 pm, thus paralyzing all the train service from the Northeast to Bangkok. He said the union workers in Nakhon Rachasima along with the union workers elsewhere have already submitted their leave. Effective today, all the trains going into Bangkok will suspend their service because of the strike. The Nakhon Sawan train carrying cargo and oil stopped service at 4:00 pm, while the Kaengkoi, Saraburi service also ceased the service at 5:00 pm. Sathorn warned commuters not to board the train from Bangkok to the Northeast as they will be left stranded along the way. Nakhon Rachasima is the rail juncture to the Northeast. The railway union workers' strike is aimed at showing support to the protestors in Bangkok, who have taken over the Government House over the past four days. Sathorn said the union workers' welfare have never been looked after by the government and that they are concerned about the security of the protesters inside the Government House, who might be stormed by the police. Local police at Nakhon Rachasima, the largest province of the Northeast, interrogated the labour union workers about the strike, but the labour union workers told them that they had no intention to destroy the government properties as claimed. Sawit Kaewwan, secretary-general of the Confederation of State Enterprise Labour Union, said the work stoppage is part of a civil disobedience against the Samak government. "Over the next two days, things would become clearer over the extent of the railway strike. In principle, we would like the strike to affect the commuters minimally. Most of the long-haul train will suspend its service, while the shorter routes might continue their service," he said. Sawit said the railway union workers will consult with the electricity and water labor unions over further strike to deprive the government of their service. Quote
Gaybutton Posted August 29, 2008 Author Posted August 29, 2008 Transport Strangled (BangkokPost.com, TNA) Railway workers stopped most trains nationwide on Friday in sympathy with anti-government protesters in Bangkok, while PAD activists blocked the vital tourist gateway airports at Phuket and Hat Yai. Hundreds of anti-government demonstrators of the People's Alliance for Democracy gathered at the front of the two southern airports on Friday afternoon. They tried to set up stages for a protest sit-in, saying they wanted to demand the government end its attempt to disperse the protesters in Bangkok. While flights continued to operate, passengers found it difficult or impossible to enter the airport buildings at the two tourist-heavy locations. Police said they hoped they could negotiate with the protesters to clear the airport entrances. But the situation looked likely to get worse instead of better, with Krabi International Airport also likely to be blocked later on Friday. Earlier, the State Railway of Thailand workers' union announced a sick-out to halt all trains nationwide for an indefinite period. The union said it wanted to show sympathy and support for the PAD-led protesters at Government House. SRT union chief Pichet Suwanchatree travelled to the South to oversee the shut down of the critical railway junction in HaT Yai district. He said all trains to and in the South had stopped running as of Friday. Services to the North and Northeast slowed on Thursday and apparently stopped completely on Friday. SRT Nakhon Ratchisima union leader Sathorn Sinpru said more than 100 union members, including 40 railway engine drivers, have taken sick leave for at least two days, beginning on Friday. Mr Sathorn said the aims to focus attention on the lack of welfare plans, as well as to show support for the protesters in Bangkok. Quote
