Railway workers end two-day strike

BANGKOK, June 23 (TNA) – The labour union of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) ended its strike on Tuesday evening, while train services resumed with the first 23 trains departing Hua Lampong station in Bangkok after a two-day stoppage.
 
Train services in other regions are to resume full operation Wednesday morning.

After negotiating with SRT executives and union members, Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart said the labour union had agreed to end the nationwide strike.

The union would further discuss with SRT executives details of the rehabilitation plan for the state enterprise before submitting it to the Cabinet for further consideration.
 
The union opposed the Cabinet-approved rehabilitation plan for the debt-ridden state enterprise, which would see two separate subsidiaries emerge to run the SRT’s airport link project and manage its assets.

Although the SRT would hold 100 per cent of shares in both subsidiaries, run by private investors, the SRT union alleged the move would lead to fare rises in the future.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, stood by the June 3 cabinet resolution regarding the SRT rehabilitation plan, saying
it was not necessary to review the plan as it did not involve privatisation as alleged by some railway union members.

The union is welcomed to air their views on the rehabilitation plan, the prime minister said.

Around 200,000 people were affected by the work stoppage, according to the SRT. (TNA)