More state enterprises consider to join PAD

 Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee still insisted on Monday that the strike should not widespread as state enterprises should first uphold public services.

 He said he would discuss with state enterprises' chiefs on the strikes, citing that the political disorder derives from misunderstanding among the public.

 The State Railway of Thailand's labour union was the first to strike. It was reported that the first train in five days to leave Chiang Mai station for Bangkok on Monday morning carried less than 20 passengers, as the public was not informed in advance of the operation resumption.

 Pongpan Sunthornchai, chairman of the House Committee on Transport, said on Monday that the SRT labour union strike has resulted in economic losses and all who took leave must return to work within 3 days.

 He said if the strike takes longer than this, SRT governor would be summoned and pressured to press for compensations from the wrongdoers. The employees could also be laid off.

 Bangkok Mass Transit Authority's labour union on Monday announced that employees could take sick leave in case that police uses violence to crack down the protesters again.

 Chatchai Chaiviset, chairman of the private bus operators association in Bangkok, said the association members have been closely monitored the situation.If Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) labour union stages a strike, the members would hold a meeting and supply buses to ease troubles. 

  

GH Bank President Khan Prachuabmoh is confident that if some employees are on strike, it would not pose financial risks as there are substitute workers. But he would discuss with the labour union chief.

 Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives President Thirapong Tangthirasun said the employees maintain 2 statuses - a Thai citizen and members of the labour union. Still, he said all should take into account public interests. If a majority of them leave work, it would affect the public services.

 Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA)'s labour union earlier threatened to cut water supply to support PAD, but its Governor Charoen Chaikittisin said the union insisted that the supply cut would not involve users in general. He noted that if the supply is really cut, the MWA would set up a unit to take complaints and handle the problem.

 Still, he said the union promised not to do anything to damage the agency's image.

 AAdisorn Kiatchokewiwat, governor of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), also insisted that the agency would not cut power supply. He also believed that employees would not do so. He said that so far, some employees have joined the PAD but that has not disrupted the agency's operations.