Train services still suspended as talksstall

Train services in the three southernmost provinces failed to resume yesterday despite an announcement by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor on Saturday.

Train services in the deep South have been suspended since October 16.

Many passengers showed up at local train stations yesterday only to be disappointed.

The stoppage continued mainly because negotiations between the SRT labour union and representatives of the SRT management failed on Saturday night.

"Train services have not yet resumed because more than 80 per cent of train drivers feel they are not ready to go back to their work yet," Wiroon Sakaekhum yesterday said in his capacity as the head of the SRT labour unon's Hat Yai branch.

He said his group was ready to negotiate but the SRT management should dispatch someone with full mandate to the negotiation table.

Wiroon said his group has three demands:

n The locomotives in the deep South must be in good working condition.

n SRT must not take disciplinary or criminal action against the employees who joined the strike.

n SRT executives must neither bully the employฌees nor issue orders that will apply pressure on them.

The Hat Yai branch of SRT labour union yesterday issued a statement affirming its deterฌmination to fight for train safeฌty and justice.

The statement accused the SRT management of slandering it.

"Thanks to our move, SRT has undertaken major maintenance work on locomotives. This is good for the safety of passengers," the statement added.

SRT southern office's director, Thanongsak Pongprasert, said he would try to persuade the labour union's leaders to resume train services in the deep South as soon as possible.

"The armoured locomotives are now in perfect condition," Thanongsak said.

A survey showed public dissatisfaction rose as the train stoppage dragged on for about 10 days.

Conducted by the Hat Yai University, the survey found that 54.8 per cent of Songkhla residents disagreed with the train stoppage even though SRT employees cited passenger safety as the main cause.

About 29.8 per cent of the respondents believed the train stoppage was the SRT employฌees' attempt to press for a pay raise. Some 28.9 per cent said SRT employees had staged the strike in a bid to seek better welfare.

About 66 per cent said the SRT governor should take responsibility for the recent fatal train derailment in Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Meanwhile, a network of 16 civil organisations yesterday issued a joint statement to express support for the SRT labour union.

In the statement, the network also called for an investigation into alleged corruption at the SRT and action against politicaloffice holders and policymakers whose poor management have led to deaths and property damage for other people.

The statement also opposed any move to privatise state enterprises.

The network includes the International Transport Workers Federation, Student Coordination Centre, Campaign for Popular Democracy, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand labour union and Action Network for Migrants.