Opinion ID: 407565
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The PATCO Strike

Text: 15 The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization has been the recognized exclusive bargaining representative for air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration since the early 1970s. Faced with the expiration of an existing collective bargaining agreement, PATCO and the FAA began negotiations for a new contract in early 1981. A tentative agreement was reached in June, but was overwhelmingly rejected by the PATCO rank and file. Following this rejection, negotiations began again in late July. PATCO announced a strike deadline of Monday, August 3, 1981. 16 Failing to reach a satisfactory accord, PATCO struck the FAA on the morning of August 3. Over seventy percent of the nation's federally employed air traffic controllers walked off the job, significantly reducing the number of private and commercial flights in the United States. 4 17 In prompt response to the PATCO job actions, the Government obtained restraining orders against the strike, 5 and then civil and criminal contempt citations when the restraining orders were not heeded. 6 The Government also fired some 11,000 striking air traffic controllers who did not return to work by 11:00 a. m. on August 5, 1981. 7 In addition, on August 3, 1981, the FAA filed an unfair labor practice charge against PATCO with the Federal Labor Relations Authority. On that same day, an FLRA Regional Director issued a complaint on the unfair labor practice charge, alleging strike activity prohibited by 5 U.S.C. § 7116(b)(7) (Supp. IV 1980) and seeking revocation of PATCO's certification under the Civil Service Reform Act. The complaint noticed a hearing for one week later, August 10, 1981. Complaint and Notice of Hearing, Jt. App. 9-11. 18