He fired them.
The air traffic controllers, who were members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO), went on strike in 1981 and were subsequently fired by President Ronald Reagan. This decision by Reagan had a significant impact on the labor movement in the United States and set a precedent for dealing with labor strikes in the public sector.
PATCO is the name of the union that went on strike. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization. It is still a union to this day and represents contract air traffic control towers. The president is Ron Taylor and he posts many articles about PATCO here: http://www.stuckmic.com/patco-news-issues/
PATCO Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization is the union that went on strike in August of 1981.
PATCO Speedline was created in 1969.
Westmont - PATCO station - was created in 1969.
Collingswood - PATCO station - was created in 1969.
Ashland - PATCO station - was created in 1969.
Woodcrest - PATCO station - was created in 1980.
August 03,1981 PATCO members (Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization) went on strike and were told to be back at their jobs in 48 hours or the government would assume the striking controllers had quit. Congress in 1947 passed a law forbidding strikes by Government employees. Reagan read aloud the non-strike oath that each air controller, and indeed any federal employee, must sign upon hiring. Reagan further stated the strikers are in violation of the law, and if they do not report for work within 48 hours, they have forfeited their jobs and will be terminated. Many of the PACO strike members did not return back to work and as a result were fired.
City Hall - PATCO station - was created in 1936.
Franklin Square - PATCO station - ended in 1979.
Franklin Square - PATCO station - was created in 1936.