How Reagan's Strike Response Shapes Trump's Current Challenges

In 1981, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) initiated a strike. Approximately 13,000 of the 17,500 members walked off the job, seeking improved wages, benefits, a shorter workweek, and exemptions from certain Civil Service regulations.

return to work or be fired. While some controllers returned, the majority did not. Reagan enforced the law, firing those who refused to comply. This decisive action was noted by many, including the Soviet Union, who subsequently took Reagan's word seriously.

The striking PATCO members were replaced by a combination of supervisors, who had not participated in the strike, and military controllers. A comprehensive hiring and training program filled the remaining gaps. In 1996, President Bill Clinton lifted Reagan's ban on rehiring former PATCO strikers, allowing a few hundred to return to their positions after a lengthy period of unemployment.

The author draws parallels between the PATCO strike and contemporary political situations, referring to "PATCO moments" faced by subsequent presidents. One example cited is President Barack Obama's response to the use of chemical weapons by Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Despite setting a "red line" against such actions, Obama did not take military action, settling for a deal with Russia to remove Syria's chemical arsenal.

The author suggests that President Donald Trump is currently facing two such "PATCO moments." The first involves the situation in Los Angeles, where Trump has taken a strong stance. The second concerns Iran and its nuclear program. Trump has expressed a preference for avoiding military action but has also set a "red line" regarding uranium enrichment. The author believes that Trump will not tolerate attacks on federal agents and may be forced to act if Iran continues to pursue nuclear weapons.