The document discusses the 1981 air traffic controllers strike organized by the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) union. Over 13,000 of PATCO's 17,500 members went on strike to demand better pay and working conditions. In response, President Ronald Reagan threatened to fire any controllers who did not return to work within 48 hours. When the strike continued, Reagan fired over 11,000 striking air traffic controllers and banned them from future federal employment. The strike weakened unions and demonstrated Reagan's opposition to organized labor.

1. Air Traffic
Controllers Strike
1981
Ronald Reagan

2. Ronald Reagan -
republican

3. Ronald Reagan -
republican

4. Ronald Reagan -
republican
• ‘Being in a union is basic right’

5. PATCO - on strike

6. PATCO - on strike
• $10,000 wage
increase

7. PATCO - on strike
• $10,000 wage
increase
• reduction in working
hours

8. PATCO - on strike
• $10,000 wage
increase
• reduction in working
hours
• better recruitment
benefits

9. PATCO - on strike
• $10,000 wage
increase
• reduction in working
hours
• better recruitment
benefits
• 13,000 out 0f 17,500
members went on
stroke

10. PATCO - on strike
• $10,000 wage
increase
• reduction in working
hours
• better recruitment
benefits
• 13,000 out 0f 17,500
members went on
stroke

11. Negotiations
• The FAA started them in Feb
1981
• Workers wanting more
money for less hours - didn’t
sit well with the Federal
Government
• This stopped a potential deal
and they walked out at the
start of the summer
• This contravened a Federal
Law, stopping government
employees from going on
strike

12. What did Reagan do?
• “If you do not return
to work within 48
hrs, your contract
will be terminated”
• He was a man of his
word and this
shocked the strikers -
they were also given
a life long
employment ban!

13. How did the USA react?
• Little sympathy - they were a well paid
group of workers
• Although PATCO condemned Reagan as
a union buster - they other unions were
annoyed that PATCO had acted illegally.
• PATCO was destroyed because it’s
leaders were sent to prison and heavy
fines were imposed.

14. Outcomes - how much of
a change?
• Hostility of the Reagan administration to
the unions
• Deployment of ‘scab’ labour to keep the
planes flying
• Lack of unity with other workers/
unions
• Negativity of public opinion towards
PATCO