The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) was founded in 1969. Since the members of this union were federal employees, the union and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were constantly at the bargaining table trying to create a satisfactory union contract. Among the issues discussed were working conditions, hours required, pay ceilings, and workers' rights. One of the central issues on which neither party could compromise was the workers' right to strike.
PATCO Local 601, Anchorage, Alaska, was chartered in 1975. By early 1976 it had eighty members spread thinly across the entire state. It had two goals: the first was to improve the working conditions for the air traffic controllers, and the second was to generate support at the local level for the national union. The officials of the local consistently supported the goals of PATCO. They urged the local members to join the national organization, always pointing out the advantages of group solidarity. Even though Local 601 always supported PATCO, it also expressed the feeling of being forgotten by national headquarters.
This feeling played a part in their desire to have a separate local union. The main reason was that Alaska had unique problems best solved at the local level. At every meeting and in every newsletter the same issues were discussed without resolution, and that was working without needed equipment, working overtime without pay, working too many hours a week for safety, and the gap between the actual working conditions and the FAA guidelines.
The battle with the FAA in Alaska had already begun by the time that the Local 601 had formed. An FAA Operational Readiness Inspection in February 1976 was based on the assumption that some day the air traffic controllers in Alaska might strike, anticipating the national strike by five years.
In August 1981, when the members of PATCO walked off the job or failed to report to work, the Reagan administration issued more than 11,000 letters of termination, essentially firing the rank and file of the union. Additionally, the courts issued orders impounding the union's funds, which had been set up to cover periods of strike. With this termination, both the national and the local unions were disbanded. Between 1982 and 1986, individuals had to reapply for employment as federal employees and many were never rehired.
The collection consists of the office files, newsletters, and journals of Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, Local 601, in Anchorage, Alaska. These provide an in-depth view of the events leading up to and immediately after the nation-wide strike in 1981. This collection covers the events leading up to the termination of the rank and file of the union. For the actual affect this had on the Anchorage Local 601, the researcher will have to examine the local newspapers from the second series and the clippings from the newspapers.
Series I consists of the congressional testimony of national and regional union representatives before various committees and subcommittees. This series also includes examples of proposed contracts between the union and the FAA. The instructions from the national headquarters to the negotiating teams are in this series. There are the photographs of the negotiating teams members for PATCO and FAA. Series II holds regional and national newsletters and journals which were distributed from locals, regional, and national headquarters. In this series the local events which affected the Anchorage Local 601 can be studied. Series III is a collection of clippings from U.S. daily newspapers, magazines, and journals. The events which covered the life and death of PATCO and its heirs, USATCO and NATCO, are here. Series IV contains the artifacts which were part of the air traffic controller's belongings during the time before, during, and after the 1981 strike.
Open for research.
Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards.
Gift,
Accessioned as number 89-10.
Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization Records, Local 601, Anchorage, Alaska:, AR389, Box Number, Folder Number, Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library.
The researcher can extract both local color and national interest from the numerous letters retained in the office files, and from the regional newsletters. Additionally, both sides can be viewed through the many interviews recorded on the videotapes in the artifacts series. Special Collections has other PATCO Locals' records and papers which may be available for further research.
Unprocessed mss. 92-8: PATCO Records of Bedford, Texas, Office (1981-1982)
Unprocessed mss. 88-16: Audio Tapes (August 14, 1981)
Unprocessed mss. 88-32: Records (1980-1982)
Unprocessed mss. 92-13: Records (1968-1979)
Unprocessed mss. 92-44: Records (1979-1992)
Unprocessed mss. 88-23: Records (1976-1981)
Unprocessed mss. 88-19: Records (1975-1982)
Unprocessed mss. 88-24: PATCO Records for the Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center (1964-1982)
Unprocessed mss. 92-32: Collection (1981-1997)
Unprocessed mss. 88-29: PATCO Records (1968-1987)
Unprocessed mss. 95-18: PATCO Records (1968-1994)
Unprocessed mss. 84-7: PATCO Records (1975-1984)
Unprocessed mss. 88-27: PATCO Records (1977-1981)
Unprocessed mss. 92-56: PATCO Records (1969-1981)
Unprocessed mss. 87-6 87-21: PATCO Records for the Southwest Region (1955-1986)
Unprocessed mss. 92-15: PATCO Records (1978-1982)
Unprocessed mss. 92-14: PATCO Records (1981-1985)
Duplicates of all documents, clippings, and photocopied material were discarded. All newspaper, magazine, and journal clippings were photocopied onto acid-free paper and the originals were discarded.
Series I. Office Files, 1968-1982. 1.2 linear ft. (2.8 document boxes, 45 folders).
Series II. Newsletters, Journals, and Publications, 1968-1988. 1.1 linear ft. (2.6 document boxes, 43 folders).
Series III. Newspaper, Journal, and Magazine Clippings, 1972-1988. 0.6 linear ft. (1.6 document boxes, 24 folders).
Series IV. Artifacts. 0.40 linear ft. (1.0 document box, containing numerous artifacts).
These materials are indexed under the following headings in the catalog of The University of Texas at Arlington Library. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Arranged alphabetically by folder topic, with the materials in each folder arranged chronologically. Material includes congressional testimony; contract proposals; Federal Regulations for Negotiating Teams;
Speech of Congressman William L. Clay to PATCO Convention; statement of John F. Leyden; president of PATCO, before Senate Appropriations Committee; Statement of John F. Leyden before the Subcommittee on Civil Service of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service; Professional Airways Systems Specialists (PASS) testimony before House Ways and Means Oversight Committee.
Letter from administrator Langhorne B. Bond to Chairman Robert B. Duncan, Subcommittee on Transportation, Committee on Appropriations; testimony of John F. Leyden before House Public Works and Transportation Committee; testimony of Robert E. Poli, president of PATCO, to Subcommittee on Transportation, Committee on Appropriations; speech by Congressman Bob Whittaker at the PATCO convention; "Omnibus" lobbying timetable and program; statement of Robert E. Poli before House Committee on Government Operations.
Testimony of Domenic V. Torchia, regional vice-president, before Subcommittee on Government Activities and Transportation; statement of Robert E. Poli before House Committee on Public Works and Transportation; statement of Robert E. Poli before Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Subcommittee report of hearings in investigation, Committee on Post Office and Civil Service; statement of Michael J. Simons, Director of Safety at FAA conference; letter from Lloyd A. Johnson to "Pat"; testimony of Robert E. Poli before Subcommittee on Compensation and Employee Benefits; statement of Robert E. Poli before House Committee on Appropriations; testimony of Patrick Doyce, Legislative Director of PATCO, before House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service.
PATCO testimony before Subcommittee on Investigation and Oversight.
News release on Air Traffic Control Hearings; expanded letter of Thomas J. Dorony; letter from Howard E. Johannssen to Congressman William D. Ford; copy of
Statement of Howard E. Johannssen before Post Office and Civil Service Committee; testimony of John F. Leyden; testimony of Rod Murray; testimony of Arthur Teatis.
Statement of Senator Lowell Weicker on the strike; list of Congressman, their districts, and clippings; letter from Congressman James M. Jeffords; testimony of Domenic V. Torchia before Subcommittee of Government Activities and Transportation; opening statement of Chairman Elliott H. Levitas; memorandum from George Brandon to regional vice-presidents; report of ATC (Air Traffic Controllers) hearings; statement by Tip O'Neill, Speaker of the House.
Letter from E. V. Curran to Robert E. Poli about contract proposals; contains proposed changes to existing contract.
Contains proposed changes to existing contract.
Contains proposed changes to existing contract.
Contains proposed changes to existing contract.
Contains federal regulations as a guide to team.
Varrious topics, including grievances, unfair labor practices and new procedures for filing grievances, published by PATCO.
Letters and memoranda concerning the strike and negotiations, proposed settlement agreement between PATCO and FAA.
Letters and memoranda concerning supervisory evaluations program; results from Washington Work Group; legislative analyses; First Annual National SUPCOM position paper.
Provides direction on techniques of negotiation.
Minutes of negotiating committee meetings; recommended changes to the 1981 contract proposal package.
Guidelines and reference points; roster of team members.
Letters from Robert E. Poli on current state of negotiations.
Contains letter from Governor Reagan seeking endorsement letter from Reagan-Bush committee stating PATCO position.
History of union stance and negotiation updates.
Information from national headquarters.
Letters from Justice Department.
Letters from Justice Department directing investigation of illegal action by PATCO.
Legal updates from Jack B. Solerwitz; letters from Henry R. Van Cleve to Richard J. Leighton, Esq; decision of Comptroller General in the case of Dr. William Post, Jr.; in the case of Leroy J. Pletten; suit of
Executive board policy statement, Alaska PATCO; Department of Transportation Employee Representation Rights; press release to KHET, Honolulu, HI.
National headquarters updates; congressional latter to President Reagan; updates from Domenic V. Torchia; letter from George Brandon to Bob Greene; memorandum from Domenic V. Torchia to Robert E. Poli; letter from Jack Ward to F. Lee Bailey; open letter to Domenic V. Torchia; speech of Robert Poli.
Letters to/from Chairman William D. Ford; results of national meeting of PATCO solidarity; membership message from Gary Eads; follow-up of Domenic Torchia to regional vice-president; letter from Gary Eads to Lane Kirkland; letters from PATCO members appealing Civil Service rejections.
Sectional analysis of the revised Air Traffic Controller bill;
Local and national headquarters' press releases and notices.
Letter to Charles Campbell from Richard Lighten; letter to Dave Trick from Richard Lighten; letter to George Brandon from Richard Lighten; letter to William French Smith, Attorney General, from Richard Lighten; legal education series.
Various proposals for bylaws and House bills before Congress affecting professional air traffic controllers.
Law 91-596, assuring safe work environment; Law 97-454, Civil Service Reform Act.
Analysis of surveys of attitudes in regional surveys.
Divided into twelve subsections ranging from Bylaws, Education, Public Relations, etc.
Educational strike guidelines for committees, communications, and local/cluster concepts.
Operating plans for various airports, Air Traffic Controller Spouses Organizations (ATCSO).
ATCSO constitution, structure, and a newsletter.
Arranged alphabetically by publication title, and thereunder chronologically. Materials include newsletters, journals, and other publications.
(Placed at end of Box 7 for ease of arrangement).
These contain the programs for the PATCO annual meetings.
(Placed at the end of Box 7 for ease of arrangement)
Arranged chronologically from 1972 to 1988; submitted from local and national sources. The two most prevalent sources are the
Includes air traffic controller's headset, PATCO union T-shirts, PATCO union clothing bag, union buttons, bumper stickers, and two videotapes.
Videotape #1 contains excerpts from: NIGHTLINE and an interview with Robert E. Poli, president of PATCO; Drew Lewis, Secretary of Transportation; FACE THE NATION, an on-the-air interview with F. Lee Bailey, the attorney for PACT; MEET THE PRESS, with an interview with Drew Luis. Also contains many of the news releases during the crisis of the air traffic controllers' strike (four hours in length).
Videotape #2 contains hundreds of television news stories that were aired across the nation from 1979 to 1982(seven hours in length).