Airport strike needs contingency planning

News > Local News

Government reviews strike plans

THAI stoppage spurs transport warning

Published: 21 Jan 2013 at 00.33
Online news: Local News

State transport agencies have been ordered to prepare contingency plans in the wake of the Thai Airways (THAI) labour strike which disrupted dozens of flights and left hundreds of passengers stranded.

The strike ended on Saturday night but rail and bus agencies have been urged to learn from the experience in case their workers walk off the job.

Transport Minister Chadchat Sittipunt said all state enterprises responsible for public services under the ministry must be prepared to handle work stoppages to minimise passenger inconvenience.

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Forum

Your comments

jck
Post : 424
Send message

Discussion 12 : 21 Jan 2013 at 14.4112
Post this to my Facebook
"Passengers should not be held hostage. A work stoppage shouldn't affect passengers and cause damage to the organisation and the country as a whole," he said. The MO of all strikers is to cause maximum disruption to the public and their employees to draw attention to their claims, as they have no other negotiating skills.
Like dislike 1 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
DonAleman
Post : 532
Send message

Discussion 11 : 21 Jan 2013 at 12.0811
Post this to my Facebook
Good luck in doing the impossible ! You may prepare contingency plans but any could only minimze, not prevent, chaos. If all the bus drivers didn't report in, yes, some management could fill in but you simply couldn't return to normalcy, couldn't provide prompt,adequate service, for any lenghtened period of time.How about ambulance drivers, paramedics
The best, only, historically proven, "contingency plan " is to provide fair wages, work conditions,hours, etc. to your employees and skillful, experienced Human Resource negotiators to "head off " strikes, not "Generals"
Like dislike 1 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
oldairman
Post : 733
Send message

Discussion 10 : 21 Jan 2013 at 11.5710
Post this to my Facebook
D7 No I didn't know that but I do understand that under his control Thai was turning around and heading towards a profit.
Are you telling me that ONLY the DP uses politcal patronage to help its "friends" as I find that very hard to believe seeing what the PTP has done for the Red Shirt mobs.
Like dislike 3 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
bkposter
Post : 1,316
Send message

Discussion 9 : 21 Jan 2013 at 11.129
Post this to my Facebook
RE: D3 in case you did not know it, The Thai airways unions and the unions covering all government enterprises are under the direct control of the DP. It is also a fact the previous CEO was not at all effective for the interests of the shareholders, but was a puppet of the union and was appointed for his political persuasion and not his experience in running an airline. It is also a fact that the DP uses the government enterprises to hand out patron jobs, and almost all of them have twice the staff necessary to be efficient. Corruption is still corruption and can be done in many ways.
Like dislike 4 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
dao
Post : 4,640
Send message

Discussion 8 : 21 Jan 2013 at 10.358
Post this to my Facebook
I wonder if you brought in the business execs and of a competitive airline and exchanged them with THAI how the two airlines would look after a year ?
Like dislike 8 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
onlyme
Post : 409
Send message

Discussion 7 : 21 Jan 2013 at 10.347
Post this to my Facebook
There were delays of 15 to 20 minutes as workers were brought in from Don Muang. How do you get from Don Muang to Swampi in that amount of time? I want to use that route to get around Bangkok.
Transportation strikes are common throughout the world (almost a daily event in France) and although I don't condone it, it is certainly not a 'national disaster'.
Like dislike 2 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
upena
Post : 1,389
Send message

Discussion 6 : 21 Jan 2013 at 09.006
Post this to my Facebook
Always after the fact
Like dislike 7 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
borrocks
Post : 224
Send message

Discussion 5 : 21 Jan 2013 at 07.265
Post this to my Facebook
Thailand is never prepared, the Country just meanders from one problem to the next...lets be honest how this place keeps on going is a miracle
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
Victor
Post : 1,300
Send message

Discussion 4 : 21 Jan 2013 at 07.194
Post this to my Facebook
Time to think seriously about down-sizing the THAI staff and make more use of out-sourcing?
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
oldairman
Post : 733
Send message

Discussion 3 : 21 Jan 2013 at 06.593
Post this to my Facebook
D2 It ONLY affected Thai Airways and no other airline so the dispute is internal to Thai.
The transport minister lambasted the THAI staff who went on strike for being inconsiderate.
"[The strike] shouldn't have happened," he said. "Their demand isn't urgent. It isn't a matter of life or death. It can be negotiated.

"How could they possibly do that? They are putting their own interest before the organisation's interest."

Why did THIS government get rid of the previous CEO who knew the job, was sorting out the problems of Thai Airways and got on well with the unions and staff? Politics once again.
Like dislike 44 people liked / 3 people disliked this comment

1 2 Next Last

Airport strike needs contingency planning | Bangkok Post: news

Government reviews strike plans

THAI stoppage spurs transport warning

Most Viewed

Plodprasop to portray ex-king at water summit

Forum

Your comments

Sign in once and access every part of the website at your convenience!