Communications: ''The Rise and Demise of PATCO'' Reconstructed/Reply

According to Hurd and Kriesky, Northrup (1984) presents a misleading explanation of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization's (PATCO) strike of 1981. He states that the goal of the strike was to establish the right to bargain over wages within the private-sector framework. Northru...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Industrial & labor relations review 1986-10, Vol.40 (1), p.115
Main Authors: Hurd, Richard W, Kriesky, Jill K, Northrup, Herbert R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Collective bargaining
Failure
Labor unions
Public sector
Strikes
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:According to Hurd and Kriesky, Northrup (1984) presents a misleading explanation of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization's (PATCO) strike of 1981. He states that the goal of the strike was to establish the right to bargain over wages within the private-sector framework. Northrup blames strike failure on inept union leadership and approves the Reagan Administration's response. He omits a careful evaluation of management's role and is not clear about changes in PATCO leading to the 1981 events. Hurd and Kriesky believe that PATCO's primary objective was to improve rank-and-file work conditions by reducing the workweek and improving the retirement system. Rank-and-file frustration was the primary cause of the strike, and the Reagan Administration aided the Federal Aviation Administration management in destroying PATCO without considering less drastic alternatives. Northrup replies that his 1984 article is fully accurate. He says Hurd and Kriesky (1986) misrepresent his sources and have not done enough research.
ISSN:0019-7939
2162-271X