
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 2, 1990                   TAG: 9003023035
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DALLAS                                 LENGTH: Medium

GREYHOUND, UNION READY FOR STRIKE

The union representing 6,300 Greyhound bus drivers told its members Thursday to prepare to go on strike early today against America's only nationwide bus company.

Union President Edward M. Strait said the 6,300 drivers and 3,075 office and maintenance workers should walk off the job at 12:01 a.m. MST (2:01 a.m. EST) unless told otherwise by the Amalgamated Council of Greyhound Locals or local union officials. The current three-year pact expired at that time.

Union leaders in Roanoke were preparing to set up a picket line. About 50 drivers are based in Roanoke.

Bob Harman, Greyhound district manager in Roanoke, said the company has hired Manpower Inc. to bring in substitute drivers and a limited schedule of operations was planned if a strike began.

Manpower is to provide drivers for two daily runs among Knoxville, Roanoke and Washington, D.C. - one in the morning and one in the evening. The normal schedule has six round trips.

One morning Roanoke-Richmond-Norfolk run will go instead of the regular two.

Greyhound this week stopped selling tickets to destinations it could not reach by midnight. Union spokesman Jeffrey Nelson said working drivers would continue to their next stop at that time, then join picket lines.

Even if the drivers walked out, Greyhound said it had plans to be back to full operation by the end of the month. The company has been advertising for drivers, and as of last week had 600 in training.

Amtrak told its agents to honor Greyhound tickets whenever possible when buses are not available.

Business Editor George Kegley also contributed to this report.

by CNB