page_title: Timeline of labour issues and events
section_title: 1980s
hierarchical_section_title: Timeline of labour issues and events / 1900–99 / 1980s
caption_attribution_description: President Reagan with William French Smith making a statement to the press regarding the air traffic controllers strike (PATCO) from the Rose Garden.
context_page_description: Timeline of trade union history
context_section_description: September 1980 (Poland)
  The trade union Solidarity (Solidarność) is established at the Gdańsk Shipyard, and originally led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Wałęsa.  Within the year the government implements martial law in an attempt to quell nationwide civil unrest and protest.
  1980 (United States)
  Joyce Miller joined the AFL–CIO executive board as the first female board member.
  3 August 1981 (United States)
  Federal air traffic controllers began a nationwide strike after their union rejected the government's final offer for a new contract. Most of the 13,000 striking controllers defied the back-to-work order, and were dismissed by President Reagan on 5 August. Reagan ordered them to leave.
  Largest labor rally in United States history broke out in protest of Reagan's order.
  1982 (United States)
  Baseball Players' Strike occurred.
  October 1982 (United States)
  A boycott was initiated by the International Association of Machinists (IAM) against Brown & Sharpe. The National Labor Relations Board later charged Brown & Sharpe with regressive bargaining, and of entering into negotiations with the express purpose of not reaching an agreement with the union. (See IAM for more details.).
  1983 (United States)
  Phelps-Dodge Copper Strike commenced.
  1984 (United States)
  Yale University Clerical Workers' Strike began.
  1985 (United States)
  Hormel Meatpackers' Strike occurred but ultimately failed.
  1985 (United States)
  Los Angeles County Sanitation Strike occurred.
  1985 (United States)
  Yale University Clerical Workers' Strike ended.
  1985 (Vatican City)
  The Association of Vatican Lay Workers was formed, but was not recognized by the Vatican authorities until 1993. It is the sole trade union in Vatican City and represents the majority of the 3000 employees who work in the city state.
  1986 (United States)
  Trans World Airlines Flight Attendants' Strike occurred.
  1986 (United States)
  USX (United States Steel) Lockout occurred.
  6 October 1986 (United States)
  Female flight attendants won an 18-year lawsuit against United Airlines, which had fired them for getting married. The lawsuit was resolved when a U.S. district court approved the reinstatement of 475 attendants and $37 million back-pay settlement for 1,725 flight attendants. (United Airlines, Inc. v. McDonald, 432 U.S. 385 (1977))
  1987 (United States)
  Paperworkers' Strike and Lockout began.
  1987 (United States)
  Professional Football Players' Strike occurred.
  1989 (United States)
  Eastern Airlines Workers' Strike occurred.
  1989 (United States)
  Pittston Coal Company Mine Workers' Strike occurred.
  4 April 1989 (Poland)
  Round table negotiations between Solidarity and the then-Communist government result in semi-free parliamentary elections in Poland, a pivotal moment in fall of the Iron Curtain in Eastern Europe.  Solidarity leader Lech Wałęsa is elected President in August of that year.
caption: Reagan speaks on air traffic controllers strike 1981
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