Question

Was it ethically acceptable for the air traffic controllers to strike? (The PATCO Strike)

Answer 1

The PATCO (Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization) was a United States trade union operated from 1968 till its certificate was cancelled in 1981, due to an illegal strike. It was one of the most important events for the U.S. labor history.

In my opinion it was unethical for the air traffic controllers to go on a strike

Facts:

1. PATCO announced “Operation Air Safety” on July 3, 1968 in which all the members were ordered to strictly follow the established separation standards of aircraft, which resulted in large delay of air traffic.
2. In 1969, US civil Service commission ruled that PATCO is now a trade union resulting in on 18-20 June, 1969 477 controllers conducted a 3day sick out.
3. Then on March 25, the newly designed union formed a controller “sickout” to protest many actions of FAA that were unfair as the striking was illegal.

Analysis

Unions are usually created to help its members to solve the problems faced by them in their workplace. In the given case controllers were facing many problems due to the actions of FAA. But instead of going on a complete strike, they should have chosen some other way such as systematic strikes so that working does not get affected and they could show their protest. Because of the problems arising due to strike in delays of the flights was affecting the entire transportation system of the country; President Reagan had to take such a drastic step of giving the ultimatum and firing of the employees. Although it was important to protest against the mistreatment (low income, longer working hours, bad working conditions) by FAA, their protest shouldn’t have affected other people. In such cases union must decide their steps properly otherwise it can cause a great loss to its members participating and the public as a whole. Once the negotiation were started more efforts should have made to convince the federal government instead of going on complete strike they could have by wearing black bands on their arms or using vocal protests at the workplace etc..Their demands were not at all unethical but their strike was unethical. The major reason of failure of the strike was that union was stuck to its demands instead of opting the way of negotiation in a smooth and understanding environment and they would have also been able to earn more support of the people of the country leading to more favorable results.