Greyhound Posts Reward in Shootings : Strike: Bus firm trying to avoid returning to bargaining table, union declares.

WASHINGTON —  Greyhound Lines today offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to convictions for shooting at a Greyhound bus or terminal in the drivers’ strike now in its fourth week.

“The terrorism must stop,” P. Anthony Lannie, executive vice president and chief negotiator for Greyhound, told a news conference. “We hope the reward will bring an end to the violence and help lead to arrest and convictions.”

Union officials said Greyhound is focusing on the violence issue “as a basic tactic to avoid going back to the bargaining table.”

“We view it as a subterfuge,” said Nick Nichols, a spokesman for the Amalgamated Council of Greyhound Local Unions.

As Lannie announced the rewards, about half a dozen union members, including union President Edward M. Strait, picketed outside the building. “They’re using that as a smoke screen to avoid coming back to the bargaining table,” Strait said. “We told them we don’t condone violence. Never have.”

Strait said violence is occurring against striking drivers as well and said there have been at least 60 incidents where pickets were injured.

Strait said he is willing to return to the bargaining table at any time. Lannie said the company will not resume talks, which broke down last Sunday in Tucson, until management has “a hard assurance” from the union that the violence will stop.

Greyhound said it is establishing a toll-free 800 number that will be in operation from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays starting at noon today.

A retired law enforcement officer, usually a former FBI agent, will take information and contact the appropriate law enforcement agency, Greyhound officials said.

Someone fired on a bus terminal in Texas, and a bus was struck by gunfire in Florida Monday in the latest violent episodes.