Dwayne A. Threadford, Aug. 4, 1981, Roger Ressmeyer/CORBIS
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In August 1981, over 11,000 PATCO (Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization) members went on strike, demanding a shorter workweek and substantial wage increases. Despite the initial public support, President Ronald Reagan declared the strike illegal, demanding the controllers return to work within 48 hours. When they did not comply, he fired over 11,000 controllers. While the late 1970s and early 1980s exhibited a broader wave of union activism, the PATCO strike significantly weakened the U.S. labor movement.
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