Government Playing Hard in Thai Electric Privatisation

The fight over privatisation of Thailand’s electric utility EGAT has seen further aggressiveness by both the government and management. Threats of discipline were made to union members of ICEM affiliate EGAT-LU as they prepared to assemble for the one-year anniversary of resistance on 23 February. EGAT management then overtly interfered in EGAT-LU’s internal activities on 3 March by directly challenging leadership at the union’s annual national meeting. EGAT bosses put forward a small group of workers demanding the union support public listing of EGAT. The government also announced 3 March that an initial public offering to raise US$783 million would occur in October.