Under their banners and placards “8 February. Vote Yes. New Constitution”, members of the Rangsit Riders Union campaigned in support of a referendum calling for the drafting of a new constitution for Thailand. The current constitution was drawn up by the military in 2017 after the 2014 military coup. The referendum was held on the same day as the general election and was successful, with 60% voting in favour of drafting a new constitution.
The riders’ action follows a UnionAID/Rangsit Labour Union Group seminar in December where the Rangsit Riders Union developed a plan to seek their rights as workers under Thailand’s labour law. As well as deciding to lobby political parties with their demands, they see a new constitution – in which they want to be involved in the public consultation drafting process – as having the potential to provide rights for platform workers like themselves.
The riders are pictured near their union ‘office’ – a table and banner set up under motorway overbridges next to the huge Future Park shopping centre in Bangkok. The Rangsit Riders Union was formed during a Rangsit Labour Union Group seminar in January last year. Union president Surasak (Toy) Sungkompituk is second from the right.
