The global economic crisis is starting to bite here in Thailand. This, combined with airport closures and continuing political instability, means that some companies are finding it hard to survive and workers are beginning to become frustrated knowing that their employment status is under threat.

On Wednesday Morning we attended a protest of 3,000 workers at the Cobra International Company, a sports and leisure goods reseller located at the Amata Nakhon Industrial Park in Chonburi District.

Workers have seen a 60% fall in commissions over the past 3 months and the staff were demanding an increase in commissions otherwise the workers would walk out from 4th December until 24th December.

The demands on the company were given over and it was decided that the company would now close indefinitely which left protesters red faced as their protest was now effectively futile. However employees have vowed to send a report to the Chonburi Labor Department and fight for compensation.

Pattaya One News

Someone else let the tires down, so the passengers siphon the tank.

Sums the place up really.

Wonder if that is the same people that made very good Cobra windsurf boards here in Thailand a few years back.

They still make windsurfing boards, I believe about 90% of the windsurfing boards in the world come out of that factory, albeit with different names on them (Starboard etc.)

It was intresting to see on Pattaya One News on TV, and also on their website, that many of the protestors where wearing the "Red PPP Headscarves" with a Thai slogan printed on them.

Therefore, it appears the protest had a political viewpoint, and not the logic of Global Recession, in which even the Thai Goverment Labour Dept announced that they expected to lose 1 MILLION jobs due to the world recession.

It come down to the Human attitude or mis-comprehension in ALL things, from Job Loses to Motor Accidents "It will never happen to me, only to the other guy". Sadly, this in not true.

It was intresting to see on Pattaya One News on TV, and also on their website, that many of the protestors where wearing the "Red PPP Headscarves" with a Thai slogan printed on them.

Therefore, it appears the protest had a political viewpoint, and not the logic of Global Recession, in which even the Thai Goverment Labour Dept announced that they expected to lose 1 MILLION jobs due to the world recession.

It come down to the Human attitude or mis-comprehension in ALL things, from Job Loses to Motor Accidents "It will never happen to me, only to the other guy". Sadly, this in not true.

It's a money-thing (what else): The Cobra people was 'promised' or were expecting an end-of-year bonus of THB 20,000-THB 40,000 + a salary increase of 6%.

Over the last months, the Cobra management decreased the bonus and the raise in salary to the level of THB 5,000 and 4%.........!

The Cobra-staff supported by the Union(s) (probably the people with the red scarfs) were told by the security guards to go home, because the business is closed until further notice.

Last year, Cobra was in a similar situation, but then the suppliers had to suffer............100-s of millions of Baht of deliveries were spread out over 3 months. This year they closed the company.........how convenient!! TmbT.

The Cobra-staff supported by the Union(s) (probably the people with the red scarfs) were told by the security guards to go home, because the business is closed until further notice.

Last year, Cobra was in a similar situation, but then the suppliers had to suffer............100-s of millions of Baht of deliveries were spread out over 3 months. This year they closed the company.........how convenient!! TmbT.

Thanks for the facts. Sadly, that bit was not explained fully on the news broadcast. It claimed they handed in a petition threatening to withdraw their labour between 4th DEC to 24th DEC, if their bonuses where not reinstated.

Now you have explained the background facts clearly. Thank you for doing so.