MCOT labour union files complaints over management

The union's chairwoman Orawan Chudee met and submitted the petition to the premier at Government House.

"Our labour union believes the chairman and some other top executives have been running MCOT without transparency, without good governance and without efficiency," she said.

The MCOT chairman is Suraphol Nitikraipots, while Tanawat Wansom is the president.

In its petition, the labour union questioned the management's decision to extend Channel 3's concession by another 10 years for a fixed fee of just Bt2 billion. Suraphol's initial suggestion that Channel 3 pay Bt405 million in compensation was opposed from some of the MCOT directors and outsiders.

The labour union also pointed out that MCOT had not received any income from its decision to let the True Visions cable network air commercials even though it had promised to pay MCOT 6.5 per cent of the income from ads.

The labour union also attacked MCOT executives' decision to procure the tele-presence system via a special process, and complained that the acting vice-president of the organisation had far too close personal ties with the president.

"The MCOT executives also lack clear business plans for the organisation's future," the petition added.

Abhisit said he would hand the petition over to the minister in charge of MCOT, after which the organisation's executives and chairman would be summoned to provide explanations.