Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has issued an ultimatum to the state railway labour union yesterday, saying that he would not resolve the conflict if the workers called another rally.
Abhisit spent an hour yesterday discussing problems with representatives of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) labour union led by Sawit Kaowwan. Neither Transport Minister Sophon Saram nor any SRT executives were invited to the meeting.
Sophon said he had no problems with this because, after all, the PM is responsible for the whole Cabinet. "I am still taking the Transport Ministry in the right direction," he said.
Meanwhile, Sawit said Abhisit was considering a proposal to set up a committee to take care of safety issues, and would be calling a meeting to discuss the issue with SRT executives today.
Sawit said he urged the PM to be fair with the six workers who had been fired for instigating the strike, because they had stopped working for the safety of the passengers.
Abhisit did not talk to the media after the meeting, but Sawit said the PM had promised to raise the issue with SRT executives later.
"We suggested the premier consider the case of the fired workers and executive's corruption case equally, but he did not make any commitments," Sawit told reporters.
Sirichai Maingam, president of State Enterprise Labour Union, who was also at the meeting said Abhisit had told them that there would be no more talks if SRT workers called another rally to pressure him.
According to government spokesman Watchara Kannika, Abhisit had told the Cabinet earlier that he would agree to meet representatives of the SRT labour union in the afternoon, and was ready to listen to them but was not ready to make any commitments.
The SRT strike has created a rift within the coalition government, because the ruling Democrat Party took action to cut a deal with the labour union without consulting Sophon, who as Transport Minister should be responsible of the matter.
Abhisit told the Cabinet that he cleared the matter with Sophon, who had already left the Cabinet meet, Watchara recounted.