Yet Reagan’s offer was union, the Screen Actors Guild. And met, Reagan approved a remarkable contract offer. Although federal unprecedented. And he extended it as governor he presided over the workers had no right to bargain over not only because PATCO was one spread of collective bargaining for salaries, Reagan made them a salary of the few unions to endorse him public workers in California through the 1968 Meyer-Miliasoffer anyway. He offered Brown Act. Thirty years PATCO an 11.4 percent of myth-making in the increase in controllers’ It is worth remembering today that aftermath of the PATCO compensation during a even in the heat of his conflict with conflict has clouded the year when other federal issue, but the fact is that workers would only see PATCO, Reagan never questioned Ronald Reagan believed a 4.8 percent scheduled the controllers’ right to bargain. in collective bargaining. increase. If these As they clamor to don numbers seem large to Reagan’s mantle, today’s us today, it is because the country was in the grip of in 1980. He believed controllers increasingly anti-union conservatives RF rampant inflation then: prices rose deserved more. He was prepared to ought to remember that. by 10.4 percent in 1981. (Indeed, break new ground by offering them a the fact that all but 1 percent of their raise, but he would not be pushed to promised increase would be eaten sweeten his offer by an illegal strike. Joseph A. McCartin, teaches history It is worth remembering at Georgetown University. He is the up by inflation led the controllers to see Reagan’s path-breaking offer today that even in the heat of his author of “Collision Course: Ronald as inadequate—they were frustrated conflict with PATCO, Reagan never Reagan, the Air Traffic Controllers, after years of watching inflation questioned the controllers’ right to and the Strike that Changed outstrip their scheduled salary bargain. This should not surprise America”. us. Reagan had formerly led a increases.)
RIPON FORUM Winter 2012
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