Posted on Aug 5, 2021
Ronald Reagan fires 11,359 air-traffic controllers
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On August 5, 1981, President Ronald Reagan begins firing 11,359 air-traffic controllers striking in violation of his order for them to return to work. The executive action, regarded as extreme by many, significantly slowed air travel for months.
Two days earlier, on August 3, almost 13,000 air-traffic controllers went on strike after negotiations with the federal government to raise their pay and shorten their workweek proved fruitless. The controllers complained of difficult working conditions and a lack of recognition of the pressures they face. Across the country, some 7,000 flights were canceled. The same day, President Reagan called the strike illegal and threatened to fire any controller who had not returned to work within 48 hours. Robert Poli, president of the Professional Air-Traffic Controllers Association (PATCO), was found in contempt by a federal judge and ordered to pay $1,000 a day in fines.
On August 5, an angry President Reagan carried out his threat, and the federal government began firing the 11,359 air-traffic controllers who had not returned to work. In addition, he declared a lifetime ban on the rehiring of the strikers by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). On August 17, the FAA began accepting applications for new air-traffic controllers, and on October 22 the Federal Labor Relations Authority decertified PATCO.
On August 5, 1981, President Ronald Reagan begins firing 11,359 air-traffic controllers striking in violation of his order for them to return to work. The executive action, regarded as extreme by many, significantly slowed air travel for months.
Two days earlier, on August 3, almost 13,000 air-traffic controllers went on strike after negotiations with the federal government to raise their pay and shorten their workweek proved fruitless. The controllers complained of difficult working conditions and a lack of recognition of the pressures they face. Across the country, some 7,000 flights were canceled. The same day, President Reagan called the strike illegal and threatened to fire any controller who had not returned to work within 48 hours. Robert Poli, president of the Professional Air-Traffic Controllers Association (PATCO), was found in contempt by a federal judge and ordered to pay $1,000 a day in fines.
On August 5, an angry President Reagan carried out his threat, and the federal government began firing the 11,359 air-traffic controllers who had not returned to work. In addition, he declared a lifetime ban on the rehiring of the strikers by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). On August 17, the FAA began accepting applications for new air-traffic controllers, and on October 22 the Federal Labor Relations Authority decertified PATCO.
Posted in these groups: 
Ronald Reagan
Office of the President (POTUS)
Air Traffic Controller
Civil Service
American History
Ronald Reagan Office of the President (POTUS) Air Traffic Controller Civil Service American History
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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What this story does not tell is that the military, primarily Air Force Air Traffic Controllers, were sent into re-enforce FAA management personnel to get Air Traffic moving again. Also of note, at least to me, PATCO had stated that Military controllers were less skilled and could not handle the rigors of civilian Air Traffic Operations. 800 Military personnel took the place of 11,000 PATCO Controllers and within days air traffic was back to about 60% of pre strike levels. I guess they proved PATCO was wrong. I was stationed at Clark AB in the Phillipines so did not get to take part in this but after all the negative comments by the Union was very proud of what those 800 guys and gals did.
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GySgt Thomas Vick
My Brother- In - Law was one of those Air Force Air Traffic Controller's, and he thought Reagan was right too.
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Never understood why federal employees needed a union. Never joined when I was in civil service.
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Cpl (Join to see)
While I was working in the civilian defense aviation industry, our team was non-union. Due to defense contract rules, part of the work went to NADEP, a government union shop. Our team had less employees, we completed our jobs in less time and we never lost an aircraft. NADEP bid twice as many hours as we did, always asked for more time, and still lost aircraft. Most unions have outlived their usefulness.
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SR Kenneth Beck
I may have a different perspective of unions. I’m a 24-year retiree of IBEW local 84. I was a Maintenance Shop Steward and Recording Secretary. Many members do not support the Union leadership lock step with the Democratic party. Georgia is a “right to work” state; you are not compelled to join. Unions keep management honest. A good union should not tolerate lazy, incompetent workers. Give the company 8 hours work for 8 hours pay. Good unions stress training and most of all safety.
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SR Kenneth Beck
Lt Col Charlie Brown - 1975 I was employed With Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART). I was an electrician working on substations. A General Foreman was at the drive-in movies, and he noticed a company truck parked in the back roll. He observed two mechanics were not performing their assigned duties on company time. Those “dummies” were fired. The Service Employees Union had their jobs restored. Every two years, when the contract was negotiated, we would go on strike. I don’t consider that union “good”.
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