I take an old magazine cover, throw in some news stories from those strange times, then sit back and ask myself the same questions I've asked for the last 29 years. I imagine an elevator leaving the top floor of a skyscraper when the cable snaps. There are old friends, now trapped inside something that is accelerating out of control toward certain destruction. Floor numbers flashing past the door throughout their descent are the days; temporal moments in the chronology of a tragedy. But inside the elevator; no one yet realizes they are falling.
My thanks to The Eighties Club for helping refresh my memory. Twenty-nine years is, after all, a long way down.
Saturday, 20 June 1981
Government represented by Transportation Secretary Drew Lewis negotiating with the air traffic controllers' union (PATCO) to avert an illegal strike.
Sunday, 21 June 1981
Negotiations between the government and PATCO continues.
Monday, 22 June 1981
Air traffic controllers' strike, scheduled for today, is called off. The government and PATCO officials reach a tentative agreement; eventually rejected by a majority of controllers.
Friday, 31 July 1981
PATCO President Robert Poli warns Transportation Department it must reach settlement with air traffic controllers by August 3.
Friday, 31 July 1981
PATCO President Robert Poli warns the Transportation Department it must reach settlement with air traffic controllers by August 3.
Sunday, 2 August 1981
PATCO president says tomorrow's deadline for threatened air traffic controllers' strike won't be extended; Attorney General William French Smith says striking controllers will be prosecuted.
Monday, 3 August 1981
Air traffic controllers in PATCO union go on strike; President Reagan warns strikers of consequences. Military personnel to replace striking controllers. FAA orders airlines at major airports to reduce the number of flights. Safety of flying during strike in question. Amtrak reports increased passenger loads.
Tuesday, 4 August 1981
Legal actions considered against striking air traffic controllers. A federal judge levees fine against PATCO.
Wednesday, 5 August 1981
Reagan administrations sends termination notices to all air traffic controllers on strike. PATCO union leaders arrested.
Friday,7 August 1981
Court hearing held on legality of air traffic controllers' strike. International controllers' organization claims several midair near-misses due to military replacements for strikers.
Saturday, 8 August 1981
PATCO President Robert Poli said to want negotiations to end air traffic controllers' strike. American Federation of Government Employees supports the PATCO strike, as does AFL-CIO.
Monday, 10 August 1981
Canadian air traffic controllers support striking PATCO members by staging temporary strike. FAA reporte sabotage of air traffic control equipment in Omaha, NE.
Tuesday, 11 August 1981
Boycott by Canadian air traffic controllers in support of PATCO strikers in U.S. hampers international air travel. Airlines express support for President Reagan in his handling of crisis. Government discusses permanent reduced flight schedules with airlines. Training of students intensifies at federal air traffic control school in Oklahoma.
Wednesday, 12 August 1981
Canadian air traffic controllers' boycott ends, international air travel returns to normal. State, City & Municipal Employees union stages pro-PATCO demonstration outside Transportation Dept. PATCO deplores allegedly half-hearted support of strike by organized labor.
Thursday, 13 August 1981
International air traffic controllers' organization decides not to take further steps to support striking PATCO members in U.S. Portuguese air traffic controllers call of scheduled boycott. Reagan says he won't grant amnesty to striking controllers.
Friday, 14 August 1981
Federal judge recommends PATCO be decertified as union for air traffic controllers. Government investigates reports that someone intentionally gave pilots wrong instructions during flights. British controllers vote not to support striking American counterparts.
Saturday, 15 August 1981
Portuguese air traffic controllers' planned boycott of U.S. planes for 48 hours as show of support for striking American controllers starts tomorrow. Strikers hold rally at JFK International Airport.
Sunday, 16 August 1981
Portuguese air traffic controllers begin 48-hour boycott of American planes in show of support for striking American controllers. U.S. government begins processing applicants to replace 12,000 fired controllers.
Monday, 17 August 1981
Portuguese air traffic controllers' 48-hour boycott of U.S. flights not hampering international flights. Portuguese and Spanish controllers' organizations to meet tomorrow to discuss international response to U.S. strike. American strikers supported by Iran and China.
Tuesday, 18 August 1981
National Transportation Safety Board investigates safety of flying during air traffic controllers' strike. Airline Pilots Association criticizes safety measures. PATCO claims numerous near-misses have occurred; Portuguese controllers end 48-hour boycott of American planes.
Saturday, 22 August 1981
Machinists Union rally in Houston, TX to show support for striking air traffic controllers draws little public interest. International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers meets in Amsterdam to discuss PARCO strike and air safety.
Sunday, 23 August 1981
International Air Traffic Controllers organization meeting in Amsterdam ends without agreement on support of PATCO strike in U.S.
Monday, 24 August 1981
FAA orders airlines to cut back operations until next year due to the air traffic controllers' strike.
Thursday, 27 August 1981
Canadian government rejects proposal of its air traffic controllers to suspend all flights to and from U.S. as show of support for striking PATCO controllers.
Monday, 31 August 1981
AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland asks Reagan to reconsider termination of striking PATCO air traffic controllers.
Wednesday, 16 September 1981
Striking air traffic controllers ask labor relations board to compel Reagan administration to resume negotiations.
Thursday, 22 October 1981
National Labor Relations Board officially decertifies PATCO, the air traffic controllers' union.
Thursday, 31 December 1981
Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) President Robert Poli resigns.
Happy New Years Bob.
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