# 1981 Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization strike

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.

## Background

The decades leading up to the PATCO strike saw reform within American labor unions, with country-wide unionization rates peaking at 35% in 1954. In the late 60s, corrupt union leaders were called out and replaced by younger leaders, often motivated Vietnam veterans with strong anti-authority positions. The strikes and boycotts organized by these reformed unions were successful in achieving new laws for safety and labor, such as the Black Lung Benefits Act of 1972.
The increased popularity of air travel in the 1970s brought a burden upon the ATC community, causing long hours, higher stress, and overall discomfort within the workplace. The successful labor movements of the 1960s and 70s inspired PATCO to go on strike in an attempt to reduce stress in the workplace. Many of the workers were veteran Air Force pilots, as well as Republican voters who had backed Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign, so they believed that a strike would be supported and ultimately be successful.
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. Stress at work and a desire for better working conditions, such as fewer hours, more money, and increased worker safety, were the main reasons controllers chose to go on strike. The controllers' burnout became worse under the heavy workload brought on by increasing aviation traffic. Members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO), many of whom were veterans of the armed forces with strong rebelliousness towards authority, had shown much of the support for the organization. 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.

## Preparation and strike

PATCO's overall goal was to "privatize" its relationship with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 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.
On August 3, 1981, over 13,000 ATCs went on strike. By the morning, the strike had stopped over 50% of flights; this number rose to 70% later in that day. Prior to the strike, former Secretary of Transportation Drew Lewis and former FAA Administrator Lynn Helms had prepared a contingency plan in preparation for such a strike. Two days into the strike, the Reagan administration gave the striking ATCs 48 hours to return to their jobs. Only 875 union members returned to work following Reagan's request. During this time, new ATCs were being trained and replacing the striking union members. ATC towers were staffed by non-striking ATCs, along with military personnel and retired ATCs who agreed to return to work. 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.

## Aftermath

The failure of the PATCO strike reshaped the American labor movement. Unionization within the United States consistently declined following the failure of the strike, from 20.9% in 1981 to 10% in 2024. 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. There had been no federal government intervention on labor unions to shut down a strike since President Grover Cleveland shut down the Pullman Strike of 1894. The PATCO strike demonstrated that the government is capable of actively replacing workers in the workforce during a strike.