Nimit Kanjanaho, a deputy leader of the Northeast-based Egat (formerly the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand) union, said all its 1,200 members opposed Thaksin's efforts to privatise state enterprises and were ready to stage a strike or journey to the rally at Sanam Luang.

Saijai Lamsombat, a member of the Provincial Electricity Authority union, said a statement claiming consumers would be given free electricity and water for two months in order to pressure Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra into stepping down, was not officially issued by PEA. But a PEA executive meeting would be held on Friday to discuss the offer of free power and water, she said. Deputy Interior Minister Sermsak Pongpanit said it was illegal for state-owned agencies to give out free power and water - and impractical, because private companies collected the fees.

He said both agencies' unions were only allowed to strike for their own benefit and any employee who took days off beyond the designated limit would face disciplinary action.

Suthep Unsamai, a deputy director-general of the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, said any state agency which deliberately failed to collect fees would be charged with negligence, which could result in a year in jail and fines of up to Bt20,000.