THAI CEO warns air hostesses to remain politically neutral

[webfact]

THAI CEO warns air hostesses to remain politically neutral 

By The Nation

 

 

Sumeth

 

Thai Airways International's chief executive Sumeth Damrongchaitham has stepped in to end an online feud between senior and junior THAI air hostesses stemming from Facebook posts by young flight attendants showing their selfies with Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.

 

With the feud heating up online Wednesday, Sumeth posted a video clip on his Facebook wall, warning all THAI staff to be careful about their communications on the social networks.

 

In his video message, Sumeth said THAI staff in uniform should remain politically neutral because they represent the organisation.

 

“Today, I have read news and I have seen messages on the social networks that affect the organization and make me feel uneasy. I would like to seek cooperation from staff and remind them that we are a state enterprise and must maintain neutrality on all issues. THAI staff are regarded as representatives of the organisation. Whenever you are in uniform, wearing y any symbol of THAI or are in the office or the workplace, always rememeber that you are representatives of the organisation,” Sumeth said.

 

The CEO stepped in after older and young THAI flight attendants exchanged heated criticism online following Facebook posts of a group of young Thai flight attendants showing their selfies with Thanathorn.

 

The Future Forward leader is popular among young voters while older members of the electorate seem to prefer junta chief Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.

 

Flight attendants aboard THAI flight TG910 from Bangkok to London Heathrow posted photos of their selfies in groups and in pairs with Thanathorn abroad the flight when Thanathorn and his family flew to Europe.

 

“May I iron a t-shirt for Thanathorn? Just kidding. Thank you for flying with us,” one post said.

 

The posts drew both criticism and likes. Critics said the flight attendants behaved improperly because they were on duty but Thanathorn’s fans were happy and said they wished they could have posed for such photos.

 

Older flight attendants later joined the row, posting that the air hostesses had behaved improperly because they acted as if they were fans of Thanathorn. Not long after, the young flight attendants retaliated with comments that the older flight attendants used to act like they were fans of Suthep Thaugsuban, a leading member of right-leaning Action Coalition of Thailand Party when he led protests against the Yingluck government.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30372764

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-07-11

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[ocddave]

So older Thai's are still showing signs of indoctrination, and younger Thai's are open-minded, so the supposedly older/wiser employees are harassing the younger ones? Nothing new here, welcome to Thailand, the land of smiles!

[PhonThong]

Well, at least now I know which hostesses to be nicer to. I'll still be nice and respectful to all of them. But, a little nicer to the yxxxg, one's.

[newatthis]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

the older flight attendants used to act like they were fans of Suthep Thaugsuban, a leading member of right-leaning Action Coalition of Thailand Party when he led protests against the Yingluck government.

It's clear! You must be politically neutral if you don't support the junta and its allies.

[scorecard]

4 minutes ago, ocddave said:

So older Thai's are still showing signs of indoctrination, and younger Thai's are open-minded, so the supposedly older/wiser employees are harassing the younger ones? Nothing new here, welcome to Thailand, the land of smiles!

 

I'm not sure I believe that. 

 

IMHO some older folks want the current PM because he stopped street protests including violence and death which had been the hallmark of Thai politics for the previous 15 years. But I'm also well aware that plenty of older folks strongly support the ff party.

 

But what is perhaps even better, long-term, is the younger folks are somehow becoming quite well informed and want major well focus change. My bachelor students have become much more vocal and well capable of good discussion points. 

[TooBigToFit]

There seem to be a lot of pictures of other politicians with groups of employees and government people on the Net. Prayut loves group photo ops.

[BobBKK]

I have yet to meet a young Thai who does not love and support Thanatorn but have met several old dinosaurs who like Prayut as they think he represents 'old' Thailand. Another 10/15 years there is hope as long as the young do not morph into dinosaurs themselves. 

[Eligius]

And if there were no end of selfies of smiling air hostesses standing beside Prayut, politely and admiringly gazing up at him - there would be no problem at all. 

That would all be fine and dandy. In fact, they would be praised for their patriotism and 'Thai-ness'. Of course. But let them dare be seen with the Devil himself - Thanathorn - oh no, no, no! That is utterly verboten.

 

God, this 'culture' is riddled with hypocrisy, double standards and lies!

 

[LivinLOS]

6 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

I'm not sure I believe that. 

 

IMHO some older folks want the current PM because he stopped street protests including violence and death which had been the hallmark of Thai politics for the previous 15 years. But I'm also well aware that plenty of older folks strongly support the ff party.

 

Conveniently forgetting that they caused the street protests and violence by deposing the elected governments.. 

 

All they had to do was win a popular mandate.. Ohh of course.. 

[Small Joke]

A glimmer of hope? 

 

Notice it's the pterodactyls in the company getting their work issue pantihose in a tangle. 

 

God, this place needs a youth revolution like Hong Kong's urgently!

[sammieuk1]

A veiled threat follow the "democratically" elected leader not the real one or your at your final destination get off the plane???? 

[ocddave]

1 minute ago, Small Joke said:

A glimmer of hope? 

 

Notice it's the pterodactyls in the company getting their work issue pantihose in a tangle. 

 

God, this place needs a youth revolution like Hong Kong's urgently!

Of course they are, they want to be respected for their age and seniority, not because they have earned anyone's respect.....sort of like the Junta Government.

[Small Joke]

9 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

Conveniently forgetting that they caused the street protests and violence by deposing the elected governments.. 

 

All they had to do was win a popular mandate.. Ohh of course.. 

Not only that, they were as guilty of the street protests. What an irony those yellow shirts were on Telly saying the reds were threatening democracy, they put the 'mock' in democracy right there.

[Misterwhisper]

Would Mr. Sumeth have issued the same admonishment if those hostesses had posed with an army general or... well, what best to call him?... uhm... little piggy. I very much doubt it.

 

[londonthai]

It was ok for the thai airways international bosses and for their trade union bullies to support financially and men power during bangkok shutdown. 

 

They ordered their employees to be at rallies in uniforms and under banners, handling out food and water to the mob. 

 

Many state employees got their job through family and friends connections and bribes, not through qualifications, like good english language skills. So they are obliged to their superiors, who well might be fascists in their political views

[lamyai3]

43 minutes ago, webfact said:

The posts drew both criticism and likes. Critics said the flight attendants behaved improperly because they were on duty but Thanathorn’s fans were happy and said they wished they could have posed for such photos.

Politics aside, he's a lot more instagrammable than any of the decrepit generals. 

[Phuketshrew]

Blimey, I didn't know that there were any younger air stewardesses working for Thai Airways.

[Oziex1]

24 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

I'm not sure I believe that. 

 

IMHO some older folks want the current PM because he stopped street protests including violence and death which had been the hallmark of Thai politics for the previous 15 years. But I'm also well aware that plenty of older folks strongly support the ff party.

 

But what is perhaps even better, long-term, is the younger folks are somehow becoming quite well informed and want major well focus change. My bachelor students have become much more vocal and well capable of good discussion points. 

Get with the picture,  these guys live by the gun and are nothing but violent thugs, they are in no way peace keepers. They are stand over men. 

The enlightenment of the young is fine so long as they don't voice against the status quo.

[Small Joke]

"IMHO some older folks want the current PM because he stopped street protests including violence and death which had been the hallmark of Thai politics for the previous 15 years."

 

 

 

They chugged the lemongrass flavour kool aid and then some!

 

It's widely accepted by diplomatic observers that the protests were exacerbated just to give the green shirts an excuse to intervene. 

 

The entire thing was an elaborate long term plot to ensure the status quo would be maintained in the run up and after a particular milestone event.

[geoffbezoz]

31 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

I'm not sure I believe that. 

 

IMHO some older folks want the current PM because he stopped street protests including violence and death which had been the hallmark of Thai politics for the previous 15 years. But I'm also well aware that plenty of older folks strongly support the ff party.

 

But what is perhaps even better, long-term, is the younger folks are somehow becoming quite well informed and want major well focus change. My bachelor students have become much more vocal and well capable of good discussion points. 

And all your bachelor students need to do now then, along many thousands of others, is get off their back sides and do something about it rather than just talk.

[Small Joke]

7 minutes ago, Phuketshrew said:

Blimey, I didn't know that there were any younger air stewardesses working for Thai Airways.

Thats because they are forced to fly to all the shitty destinations, that you wouldn't want to go to if they paid you! 

[ocddave]

1 minute ago, geoffbezoz said:

And all your bachelor students need to do now then, along many thousands of others, is get off their back sides and do something about it rather than just talk.

Yup, they seem to have no problem attacking each other (rival university students), but they can't muster enough courage to confront a dictator and his minions. 

[Small Joke]

Anyone remember when a Thai pterodactyl threw a drink over one of Thakisins daughters in-flight? 

 

Pepperidge Farm remembers.

[holy cow cm]

50 minutes ago, webfact said:

we are a state enterprise and must maintain neutrality on all issues.

Junta controlled says it all.

 

53 minutes ago, webfact said:

the Future Forward leader is popular among young voters while older members of the electorate seem to prefer junta chief Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Then all pictures and videos with any politician and stars need to be banned on this basis as it shows intent for whom they like without any reals basis just being a phot op. And further more, this statement is spreading unfounded claims of who the older fight crew prefer and who the younger ones prefer.. misinformation. 

[expatfromwyoming]

The ever present specter of galloping authoritarianism and its centralized political controls that undermine or abolish basic freedoms and fair play. The young are slowly starting to question and rebel

[meinphuket]

Why don't THAI management focus on returning a profit for their investors instead of this BS !!!!

[kamahele]

A celebrity is a celebrity regardless of party. As long as the staff didn't post comments of a political nature along with the photos, what is the harm? I'm sure if the PM was on board, some crew would ask for photos with him as well regardless of their party affiliation because he is the PM.

[Justgrazing]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai Airways International's chief executive Sumeth Damrongchaitham has stepped in to end an online feud between senior and junior THAI air hostesses

Miaow .. Cat fight 'tween cabin crew .. How's about a tag team MMA bout in the ring t'wixt them .. No uniforms .. 

[bannork]

5 hours ago, Small Joke said:

Thats because they are forced to fly to all the shitty destinations, that you wouldn't want to go to if they paid you! 

This was a flight to London. I'll go there if someone pays me (a considerable sum).

[BobbyL]

Not surprising that this has come from Thai Airways. A lot of their senior management are old military bootlickers. Dreadful company from top to bottom.