Members of Britain's Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) are expected to remain on strike for the third day today, with service reductions at the twelve struck companies ranging from the significant to the almost imperceptible but averaging around 50 percent. With the upcoming long Easter Weekend making today the busiest of the year for Britain's rail system, the Association of Train Operating Companies has harshly criticized the guards who have asked for passengers' understanding in this strike over safety issues. The RMT members are striking over the employers' continued opposition to their contract demand that train guards' duties be extended to helping drivers ensure track and train safety during accidents and breakdowns instead of standing by inside the trains.
See "Third day of rail strikes set to disrupt Easter travellers", JOANNA CHUNG, Financial Times, April 16, 2003