Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 8, 1990 TAG: 9005080116
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DALLAS LENGTH: Medium
"The strike is in effect concluded from the point of view of day-to-day operations," Greyhound Lines Inc. Chairman Fred G. Currey told reporters. He declared "a new day in the life of the new Greyhound."
Some union officials claimed Currey's statement was a publicity stunt to scare striking drivers back to work at the nation's only intercity bus company.
"It's a common ploy to try to scare a few more strikers into scabbing by announcing that there's no hope," said AFL-CIO spokesman Rex Hardesty.
The company's latest contract offer had included the elimination of 4,500 union jobs, a change from per-mile wage rates to hourly wage rates, plus a four-year wage freeze.
The union called the proposal, made Saturday, an "insult" and officials refused to present it to membership. No further talks were scheduled.
Currey did not rule out resumed negotiations with the union, noting it remains the licensed bargaining agent for the drivers.
The union, which represents 6,300 drivers and about 3,000 office and maintenance workers, walked off the job March 2.
During the sometimes violent strike in which buses have been hit by gunfire, Greyhound has been running with permanent replacements and employees who have crossed picket lines.
As of Monday, the company said 548 union drivers had crossed picket lines, it had hired 2,888 new drivers and had 501 others in school, giving the company 3,937 available drivers by May 16.
Currey said Greyhound was serving areas that provided 98 percent of its revenue last year. But he said revenues are running between 65 percent and 75 percent of last year's levels and do not meet expenses, although they are nearing a break-even point.
The company also said it would cut its charter operations from 197 cities to 19 cities.
On Friday, Greyhound announced it lost $55.8 million in the first three months of the year and would not make a $9.75 million interest payment due May 15. Currey said Monday that money is being used instead to help operate the company.
by CNB