Port workers to strike in sympathy with PAD
In a show of defiance against the government and a demonstration of moral support for the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in their ongoing struggle, members of the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) labor union will stop work at Bangkok Port starting from noon on Thursday, according to Somkiat Rodcharoen, president of the PAT's labor union.
Somkiat said on Tuesday that the PAT labor union had agreed that about 3,600 members should "exercise their discretion" in joining PAD demonstrators occupying the Government House compound and holding rallies at parliament and the Bangkok Metropolitan Police headquarters from Tuesday.
The Port Authority has become the first state enterprise whose employees will stop work in support of the PAD protesters, who are demanding the ouster of the coalition government of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
In early September its workers stopped work in protest against the then government of Samak Sundaravej, causing heavy damage to the PAT in terms of revenue losses and hurting goods shipments.
Somkiat said the union began informing shippers on Tuesday of the planned strike, and if they are unable to complete loading or unloading goods before noon on Thursday, shippers should switch to other ports as they did last month.
Sunida Skulratana, director-general of the PAT, admitted that the planned work stoppage would definitely hurt the agency's revenue and that the agency could face lawsuits from private transporters.
Three to five cargo ships use the facilities at Bangkok Port daily, with the PAT earning about 10 million baht (US$250,000) per day, Sunida said. That income would be wiped away because of the strike, she said. - Thai News Agency (TNA).
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