This is a two-part question based on the reading below.

Part 1: Was it ethically acceptable for the air traffic controllers to strike?

Part 2: Was it ethically acceptable for President Reagan to fire the striking air traffic controllers?

Arguably the most significant U.S. labor relations event in the latter part of the 20th century was the failed strike byair traffic controllers belonging to the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) in 1981. Against a backdrop of long-term private sector union membership decline and robust unionism in the public sector, it is perhaps appropriate that this event occurred in the public sector: Air traffic controllers are U.S. federal government employees who work for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a government agency. It is illegal for unions of federal government employees to strike.

Being an air traffic controller is stressful; a mistake can cause a plane crash. Controllers first formed a union in 1968-a common time for the formation of public sector unions. During the 1970s PATCO fought with the FAA over wages and working conditions, and several times engaged in coordinated sick-outs because striking was illegal. In June 1981, PATCO negotiators tentatively accepted a new contract that (if approved by Congress) would give substantial pay raises, increased severance pay, and an enhanced voice in operating and safety policy making. The membership rejected this agreement. President Reagan warned that strikers would be discharged because federal sector strikes are illegal; but on August 3, 1981, PATCO members went on strike. Military controllers, retirees, supervisors, and air traffic controllers who did not strike were put to work by the FAA, and after 10 days the system was functioning at about 70 percent of normal capacity. Four hours after the start of the strike, President Reagan gave the strikers 48 hours to return to work or be fired. Over 11,000 did not return and were fired. PATCO was decertified.

There are two competing views on why the PATCO membership struck. One view is that PATCO figured that a disruption of air traffic would force Congress to grant it the legal right to strike and to negotiate wages (which is also illegal in the federal sector), but the union leadership blundered by overestimating its power. As such, the workers foolishly turned down a generous contract. The alternative view is that the workers were striking out of frustration with autocratic, even paramilitary, FAA supervisors and managers. As such, the Reagan administration is also to blame for taking an exceptionally hard line during negotiations and the strike. In either case the firing of the striking air traffic controllers was a public and devastating defeat for organized labor. By many accounts (but not all), the failed PATCO strike established an antiunion climate in which it became acceptable for private sector employers to aggressively weaken or break unions during the 1980s and 1990s.

As a footnote, the new controllers voted to unionize in 1987 and are now represented by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.