Edward M. Strait

Who is Edward M. Strait?

Edward M. Strait was an American labor leader, known for having been President of the Amalgamated Council of Greyhound Local Unions, representing more than 9,300 employees, and head of the Amalgamated Transit Union's bargaining unit during the strike beginning March 2, 1990, and ending in April 1993. As Council President, Strait discussed the terms of all possible negotiations with the 16 local union presidents. Believing the company was motivated by a preconceived desire to bust the union, Strait explained that "they negotiated us into a strike. I think this has been planned. The company wants to get rid of the union."

Initial strike negotiations were stalled by acts of violence. While Greyhound CEO Fred Currey argued that "no American worth his salt negotiates with terrorists," Strait responded that management's failure to negotiate amounted to "putting the negotiations back into the hands of terrorists." Shortly after Currey declared "victory" and called the strike "irrelevant," Greyhound was forced to declare bankruptcy in June, 1990, which Strait predicted in a debate with Executive Vice President and Chief Negotiator Anthony Lannie on Jim Lehrer's NewsHour.