User:MidwestSloth/1981 Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization strike

Article Draft

Major Edit 1 (Add new paragraph to Aftermath)

On the twenty-fifth anniversary of the strike, the New Labor Forum published an article by looking back on the walkout, and why it failed. Among those reasons was a lack of public relations material from PATCO to sway the general public in their favor. According to labor sociologist Art Shostak, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had "one of the biggest propaganda machines outside the Kremlin." For example, the FAA used their connections with news outlets to frame the strike as unlawful and a threat to poor Americans, claiming PATCO's contract demands would result in higher inflation. President Reagan also acted on the side of the FAA, criticizing PATCO for what he believed to be abandoning their posts. Without countermeasures from PATCO, the federal government was largely able to control public opinion, characterizing the strike as illegal and impractical.

Major Edit 2 (Add new paragraph to Preparation and Strike)

Stress was seemingly thrown aside by the government and the general public. In some cases, employers saw that stress was just a "phenomenon" that only a few workers felt. Despite these claims, it was inherent that many air traffic controllers were all under some form of stress. There was clear pressure on those who were air traffic controllers at the time. Over time the work caused them to seemingly break down psychologically the longer they continued to work. Unfortunately the air traffic controllers emotions were not taken into consideration and were just pushed off to the side. As air traffic controllers would work, they would often become fatigued. Fatigue is often one of the symptoms of stress. But this feeling was pushed to the side as just another characteristic of the job by employers.

Minor Edit 1

(From tail end of background section)

They thought that a strike would win political support and public sympathy since they were fed up with the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) lack of respect for them. Their sense of support was incorrect, as President Ronald Reagan, who had received support from many controllers, responded aggressively. A big shift in labor politics occurred when Reagan ruled that the strike was unlawful and ordered the dismissal of more than 11,000 striking controllers.

TO

Strikers were certain of their victory against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), but this confidence proved to be unfounded. President Ronald Reagan, from whom they expected reciprocal support, responded aggressively to the strike. Despite Reagan’s membership in the Screen Actors Guild, he opposed strikes as a tactic. He quickly ruled the strike unlawful and ordered the dismissal of more than 11,000 striking controllers.

Minor Edit 2

(From middle of aftermath)

The PATCO strike demonstrated that the federal government would act as a strike breaker, making labor unions more hesitant to use strikes as a tool.

TO

The PATCO strike was a reversal of stance for the federal government. Whereas previously, labor unions could count on a neutral--or in some cases even supportive--government, halting PATCO showed that the federal government was willing to act as a strike barrier. Consequently, labor unions grew more hesitant about using strikes as a tool. (Will insert citations from article when doing final editing)

Minor Edit 3

(From beginning of strike section)

The original demands were initially very high, requesting a $10,000 pay increase per year with 32-hour work weeks, along with an increased pension and disability benefits.

TO

The original demands requested a $10,000 pay increase across the board, a four-day work week, increased pension and disability benefits, and cost-of-living adjustments.

Minor Edit 4

(Add onto end of aftermath)

PATCO greatly shaped the decline of the labor movement through the 1980s and 1990s.

Minor Edit 5

The PATCO Strike of 1981 was a union-organized labor strike of air traffic controllers (ATCs). Following a decade of successful strikes in other industries, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) declared a strike on August 3, 1981, demanding higher wages and more benefits. Despite 13,000 ATCs striking, the strike ultimately failed, as the Reagan administration was quickly able to replace the striking ATCs, resulting in PATCO's decertification. The failure of the PATCO strike impacted the American labor movement, accelerating the decline in labor unions in the country.

TO

(Additional Lead Info)

The PATCO Strike of 1981 was a union-organized labor strike of air traffic controllers (ATCs). Following a decade of successful strikes in other industries, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) declared a strike on August 3, 1981, demanding higher wages and more benefits. Despite 13,000 ATCs striking, the strike ultimately failed, as the Reagan administration was quickly able to replace the striking ATCs, resulting in PATCO's decertification. The failure of the PATCO strike impacted the American labor movement, accelerating the decline in labor unions in the country, and represented a major break in federal policy and attitudes toward labor unions.

Minor Edit 1

On Monday, August 3rd, 1981, over 13,000 ATCs went on strike.

From

On August 3, 1981, over 13,000 ATCs went on strike.

Minor Edit 2

Ultimately, the government action was effective at defeating the union. Only 1,300 of the striking workers were able to retain their jobs, and none of them attained their demands. The strike lasted until Wednesday, August 5th, 1981.

From

Ultimately, the government action was effective at defeating the union. Only 1,300 of the striking workers were able to retain their jobs, and none of them attained their demands.

Minor Edit 3

On August 5th, only 875 union members returned to work following Reagan's request.

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Only 875 union members returned to work following Reagan's request.

Minor Edit 4

Two days into the strike on Wednesday, August 5th, the Reagan administration gave the striking ATCs 48 hours to return to their jobs.

From

Two days into the strike, the Reagan administration gave the striking ATCs 48 hours to return to their jobs.

Minor Edit 5

The PATCO strike of 1981 was important to American labor relations. Which illuminated the problems faced by air traffic controllers and the growing animosity between organized labor and the federal government.

From

The PATCO strike of 1981 was important to American labor relations, which illuminated the problems faced by air traffic controllers and the growing animosity between organized labor and the federal government.

Bibliography

Hurd, Richard W.; Kriesky, Jill K. (1986). ""The Rise and Demise of PATCO" Reconstructed". ILR Review. 40 (1): 115–122. doi:10.2307/2523950. ISSN:0019-7939

Meltzer, Bernard D.; Sunstein, Cass R. (1983). "Public Employee Strikes, Executive Discretion, and the Air Traffic Controllers". The University of Chicago Law Review. 50 (2): 731–799. doi:10.2307/1599509. ISSN:0041-9494

Newman, Katherine S. (1987). "PATCO Lives! Stigma, Heroism, and Symbolic Transformations". Cultural Anthropology. 2 (3): 319–346. ISSN:0886-7356

Shostak, Art (2006). "An Unhappy 25th Anniversary: The Patco Strike in Retrospective". New Labor Forum. 15 (3): 74–82. ISSN:1095-7960

Tesh, Sylvia (1984). "The Politics of Stress: The Case of Air Traffic Control". International Journal of Health Services. 14 (4): 569–587. ISSN:0020-7314.

LeRoy, Michael H. "The PATCO Strike: Myths and Realities." Proceedings of the Annual Meeting-Industrial Relations Research Association. INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS RESEARCH ASSOCIATION, 1997.

Traynor, Thomas L., and Rudy H. Fichtenbaum. “The Impact of Post-Patco Labor Relations on U.S. Union Wages.” Eastern Economic Journal, vol. 23, no. 1, 1997, pp. 61–72. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40325754. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

McCARTIN, JOSEPH A. “PATCO, Permanent Replacement, and the Loss of Labor’s Strike Weapon.” Perspectives on Work, vol. 10, no. 1, 2006, pp. 17–19. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23272081. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.