That would have more appropriately highlighted one of Ronald Reagan's most notorious achievements, the decision to fire 1,800 striking air traffic controllers early in his first term. Congress's decision to name Washington's airport for Reagan dishonors working people across the country. Although it wasn't the era's first large-scale firing or permanent replacement of striking workers, it certainly was the most prominent. Reagan's action sent a message to employers that they could act against striking or organizing workers with virtual impunity. And it sent a message to workers that they struck or sought to organize at their own peril.
Many workers are so intimidated that they fear unionizing or even asking for a raise.
All of this cannot, of course, be attributed to Ronald Reagan. But he did more than his share to help bring it about. Russell Mokhiber is editor of the Washington, D.C.-based Corporate Crime Reporter . Robert Weissman is editor of the Washington, D.C.-based Multinational Monitor. Please feel free to forward the column to friends or repost the column on other lists.