The State Railway Workers’ Union of Thailand (SRUT) opposes government plans to restructure the rail system by separating infrastructure and operations and to establish a new rail track department under the transport ministry to act as regulator. This will strip the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) of its regulatory powers so that it becomes just one of several operators in the inter-city rail network, alongside Bangkok Metro, which operates the MRT subway, and Skytrain operator Bangkok Mass Transit System.
ITF rail section chair Øystein Aslaksen was a panellist at the event on 3 February, which brought together SRUT officers and activists from the capital and all nine branches across the country to develop a strategic response to the government privatisation plans. The union fears the plans would adversely affect workers and threaten railway safety.
Øystein Aslaksen said: “Our experience shows that privatisation often starts with splitting infrastructure and operations. This is in order to allow private companies to use the tracks, often in competition with the state owned operator. Experience shows that the splitting of integrated railway systems creates a lot of problems, for the railway companies, passengers and the workers. The union should monitor the situation very carefully and prepare to fight to keep the railways in public ownership.
The three other panellists were Somsak Kosaisook, advisor in chief to SRUT, a representative from the SRT management and the academic who is drafting the SRT’s rail restructuring plan. Sawit Kaewvarn, SRUT adviser and general secretary of the SERC (State Enterprises Workers’ Relations Confederation), facilitated the discussion. Representatives from the SEETU (airport rail link) and MRTA (the subway) unions took part in the discussions. The SRUT continued its strategic discussions for a further two days.
