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Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, Central Office Files [Series VI]

 Series
Identifier: L1986-45_06

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Content of Series VI: Central Office Files

The Central Office Files (1967-1984) contain correspondence and other materials generated and received by the PATCO central office in Washington, DC (1969-1982). The majority of files consist of correspondence between the central office and the regions and locals and correspondence between the central office and outside organizations including the AFL-CIO, the FAA, Oklahoma City ATC Training Academy, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and several international air traffic control organizations. Topics include overtime, strike contingency plans, regional re-alignment, air safety, substance abuse, and medical issues. This series also includes vice-presidential (1977-1981) and presidential (1977-1981) correspondence and executive board resolutions (1969-1981).

In addition to correspondence, this series contains inter-office materials dealing with contract negotiations (1977, 1981), the facility representative training school, chronological files (1980-1981), and "read" files (1976-1981). Included are files for the following committees: constitution, negotiating, finance, re-classification, safety, training, regional re-alignment, equal opportunity, political action, and benefits.

Lastly, the central office series contains materials dealing with Braniff Affair (1980-1981), the controller sustenance fund (1977-1981), PATCO constitutions (1968-1979), and a marked-up copy of the 1977 Master Contract.

Dates

  • Creation: 1957-1985

Creator

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research use. Access to materials with personal or sensitive information is restricted for 75 years from the date of creation.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Georgia State University is the owner of the physical collection and makes reproductions available for research, subject to the copyright law of the United States and item condition. Georgia State University may or may not own the rights to materials in the collection. It is the researcher's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and obtain permission from the copyright holder before publication, reproduction, or display of the materials beyond what is reasonable under copyright law. Researchers may quote selections from the collection under the fair use provision of copyright law.

Collection is stored offsite. Allow at least 2 working days for retrieval.

History of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization

The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) was formed in the New York area in 1968 to represent the interests of federally employed air traffic controllers. The objectives of the organization were to preserve and promote the profession; to improve working conditions for air traffic controllers within the United States, its territories, and possessions; and to represent its members in dealing with the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other agencies concerning grievances, personnel policies, practices and other matters. In 1981, though as federal employees it was illegal for them to do so, PATCO members went on strike. Over 11,000 controllers were subsequently dismissed.

Wages, work hours, and retirement were the significant issues for the PATCO rank and file in their 1981 negotiation with the FAA. Members wanted an across-the-board $10,000 salary increase (base pay for a controller was then $20,462). PATCO President Robert Poli also wanted the 40-hour five-day week reduced to a 32-hour four-day week without a decrease in salary. Controllers deemed the shorter work week their most important issue, because they hoped it would reduce the on-the-job stress that many of them experienced. They also wanted a change in retirement requirements because they claimed that controllers experienced "burn out" faster than other federal employees. The government refused to discuss the last two demands. An agreement was reached by June 22 that called for a 10% pay hike for controllers, a 20% increase in the nighttime work pay differential, and a guaranteed 30-minute lunch period. Though Poli had managed to get a few more benefits, he felt the overall package was not enough. When it went to a vote, 95% of his members rejected the pact. Though the two sides went back to the bargaining table on July 31, neither seemed willing to budge. On August 3, 1981, the 15,000-member Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization went on strike.

Because PATCO members were responsible for guiding commercial airline flights throughout the United States, the strike caused confusion, long delays, and worries about air travel safety. Furthermore, as federal employees, PATCO members by law were not permitted to strike. On August 5, the federal government issued dismissal notices to over 11,000 controllers who refused to return to their jobs. To President Ronald Reagan, the air traffic controllers had quit their jobs by striking illegally. Secretary of Transportation Drew Lewis said, "To all intents and purposes, the strike is over. Our concern is to rebuild the system."

On August 6, a federal judge imposed a fine of $2.4 million per day (later reduced) on PATCO as long as the strike lasted. The government also obtained a court order that barred the union from using its $3.7 million strike contingency fund and began proceedings to have it decertified. Union members and other unionists claimed that the government was union busting. New workers were quickly trained and installed as air traffic controllers and in October, PATCO was decertified and dissolved. The PATCO strike and firing was one of the most significant and controversial episodes involving the American labor movement during the era.

On August 12, 1993, President Bill Clinton, by an executive order, lifted the ban on rehiring PATCO controllers who had been fired twelve years earlier.

Presidents of PATCO

1969-1970
James E. Hayes
1970-1980
John F. Leyden
1980-1982
Robert E. Poli
1982
Gary W. Eads

Executive Vice Presidents

1972-1980
Robert E. Poli
1980-1982
Robert E. Meyers
1982
Domenic Torchia

Extent

30.86 Linear Feet (in 74 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) was formed in 1968 to represent the interests of federally employed air traffic controllers and was dissolved in 1981, after a strike against the United States government resulted in all PATCO members being fired from their Federal Aviation Administration jobs. This finding aid (number 6 of 18) describes Series VI, Central Office Files, 1967-1984 (30 linear feet of records in 71 boxes), records of the administrative office in Washington, D.C.

Organization of the Records

This finding aid describes Series VI: Central Office files. The Central Office files make up part of the larger PATCO records which are divided into 18 series (each with its own finding aid).

Location

Collection is stored offsite. Allow at least 2 working days for retrieval.

Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records

The PATCO records are divided into 18 series, each with its own finding aid, for ease of use and access.

Other Series

  1. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, President's files [L1986-45_01]
  2. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, Executive Vice President's files [L1986-45_02]
  3. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, Regional Vice President's files [L1986-45_03]
  4. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, Director's files [L1986-45_04]
  5. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, Strike Files [L1986-45_05]
  6. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, Membership Files [L1986-45_07]
  7. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, Financial records [L1986-45_08]
  8. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, Conventions [L1986-45_09]
  9. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, Arbitration and Grievances [L1986-45_10]
  10. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, Region and Locals [L1986-45_11]
  11. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, Accident files [L1986-45_12]
  12. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, Safety and Health files [L1986-45_13]
  13. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, Public Relations and Newsclippings [L1986-45_14]
  14. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, Publications [L1986-45_15]
  15. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, Legislative files [L1986-45_16]
  16. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, Subject files [L1986-45_17]
  17. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization records, Legal files {L1986-45_18]

Custodial History

Following PATCO's bankruptcy declaration in 1982, a court-appointed trustee took custody of its records. In 1985, the bankruptcy trustee authorized the records' transfer to PATCO Local 159 for historical preservation. Terrence A. Shannon of Local 159, in consultation with the Southern Labor Archives, retrieved approximately 1000 cubic feet of records from storage in Washington, D.C.

Acquisition Information

Records donated by Terrence A. Shannon of PATCO, Local 159 (Savannah, Ga.), 1986.

Digital Access

This series is one of nine series that have been have been digitized in full and are available online at Georgia State University Library Digital Collections.

Related Archival Materials

Related Materials in Other Repositories

  1. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) Records, 1970-1981 (2009-77). Special Collections, University of Texas at Arlington Library.
  2. PATCO Records for the Southwest Region, 1968-1986 (AR291). Special Collections, University of Texas at Arlington Library.
  3. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) Records, Local 332, Kansas City, Missouri, 1971-1987 (AR397). Special Collections, University of Texas at Arlington Library.
  4. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization Records, Local 601, Anchorage, Alaska, 1968-1988 (AR389). Special Collections, University of Texas at Arlington Library.
  5. Arthur B. Shostak Collection, 1974-1992 (AR374). Special Collections, University of Texas at Arlington Library.
  6. George Brandon Papers, 1968-1982 (AR293). Special Collections, University of Texas at Arlington Library.

Processing Information

Following the acquisition of the PATCO records in 1986, Southern Labor Archives staff created an organizational scheme and identified a large portion of the records for deaccession. In 2001, Series I through IV were processed by Pam Hackbart-Dean and Annie L. Tilden at the file level.

In 2008-09, Series V through XVIII were processed by Hal Hansen and George Rounds according to a revised organization. More material was deaccessioned or transferred to print collections during the completion of the project.

Title
Records of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization at Georgia State University:
Subtitle
A Guide to the PATCO Records, Series VI: Central Office Files
Status
Completed
Author
Georgia State University Library
Date
February 2010
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2016: EAD revised by Hal Hansen.

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
100 Decatur St., S.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-413-2880
404-413-2881 (Fax)