The Impact of Reagan's 1981 Air Traffic Controller Strike

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan responded decisively to a strike by 13,000 air traffic controllers, showcasing his stance against union power. By terminating the striking workers, Reagan sent a clear message that unions and strikers were not to be seen as workers seeking better conditions, but rather as troublemakers. This pivotal move initiated a decline in union influence across the country, leading to an increase in broken strikes and a loss of jobs for unionized workers. The ramifications of this strike continued to be felt as unions gradually diminished in power throughout the subsequent decades.