Unions urge workers to join strike

"We will execute the action on September 3, targeting major government offices. Still, we will exclude schools, temples, hospitals and public places," said Amnart Palamee, deputy secretary-general of the State Enterprises Worker's Relations Confederation. "Driving us to the decision was the violence on Monday night."

Leaders of the unions of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), the Provincial Electricity Authority, the Provincial Waterworks Authority and CAT Telecom called for cooperation from all state enterprise employees.

The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation's labour union chief Rawai Phoorakha also urged employees to join the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), following the clash on Monday. He insisted that the stoppage would not affect the organisation's operations due to the 45-day stockpiles.

It was also reported that the Port Authority of Thailand's labour union would stage a strike today at Bangkok Port.

According to PAT governor Sunida Skulratana, most of the 1,000 workers at the port are at the operational level. Upon news that the port would be closed, three ships were diverted yesterday morning to Laem Chabang and Siam Cement's port, causing a loss of about Bt10 million in revenue for the Bangkok Port. "We still don't know what will happen, but it's the workers' right to take leave," she said.

Energy Minister Poonpirom Liptapanlop showed concern that this could affect fuel reserves, as Bangkok Port is the main port where fuel is loaded for Bangkok service stations.

Paiboon Ponsuwanna, vice chairman of the Thai National Shippers' Council, said the closure of the port would throw both importers and exporters into serious trouble because they could not receive or transfer their goods on time. This would disrupt production schedules.

Food exporters would be the hardest hit, said Yuthasak Supasorn, executive director of the National Food Institute, as well as rice exporters as ships are their main means of transport.

While trains to the South remained suspended yesterday, some trains to the North and Northeast resumed services. Protesters also took control of Hat Yai International Airport, while those in Phuket and Krabi instead seized the City Hall as their main protest venue.

The MEA and Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) yesterday insisted that it was illegal to cut off power and water.

While the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand said all power plants would operate as normal, the power distributor in Bangkok - the MEA - has exercised contingency plans to cope with any disruption. An emergency centre is in place to monitor the supply around the clock.

"Even if any government unit owes us power fees, it doesn't mean that we can cut off the supply. There's a protocol, and violating it is illegal," said MEA governor Pornthep Thanyapongchai.

MWA governor Charoen Chaikittisin also announced an emergency plan to monitor the water supply around the clock. The agency is ready to reopen the supply within 30 minutes, he said.