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Published on September 13, 2007

 Hundreds of representatives from labour unions under the Transport Ministry jointly protested yesterday against the ministry's privatisation policy, saying it would not solve the accumulated losses of each organisation.

They also threatened to collaborate on a big nationwide protest if the ministry continued its privatisation plan. The protesters were from the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), the Expressway and Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand and Transport Co. The protesters do not want the privatisation plan to be implemented because it would cause them to shoulder even more heavy losses. They say privatisation will pave the way for the ministry to separate the various organisations into companies that turn a profit and ones facing losses. In addition, private investors will be interested in investing only in those companies that can ensure a profit.

They protested by burning a coffin they said belonged to Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um and submitted a letter to one of Sansern's advisers urging him to halt the plan.

Each organisation also issued an individual statement. For instance, the SRT's protested against the Cabinet's approval on July 24 to allow the ministry to amend the SRT Act of 1951. The amendment focused on restructuring the SRT to allow it to be managed by the private sector.

To facilitate private operation, the SRT will be divided into four parts. Businesses that generate a profit will be set up in the form of a company, to facilitate the entrance of the private sector. Riengsak Keangkhan, head of the SRT's labour union, said that while the new structure would reduce the SRT's management power, it would also allow the private sector to compete directly with the SRT.

"The union has resisted this plan since 1998, and the SRT has also agreed that any reorganisation should require talks with the union," said Riengsak, adding that if the ministry continued with the plan, there would be big protests nationwide.

Sanan Boon-nok, head of the BMTA's labour union, said members disagreed with the idea of privatising the BMTA by setting it up as a company. This would force the BMTA to become a subcontractor in managing the country's mass transportation.

In addition, the BMTA would have to compete with the private sector in auctions to control operations.

Sanan noted that privatisation would also focus on the installation of e-ticketing, which would cost 9,000 BMTA employees their jobs. Instead, the ministry should consider putting new engines into buses and using more natural gas. Sansern said he has ordered ministry permanent secretary Chaisawat Kittipornpaiboon to consider these proposals and report to him afterwards.

 Watcharapong Thongrung

 The Nation