US. Controllers Resist Reagan

peti and Newnor! News Virninie beinc led © of the Profeuicaal Air Traffic to return to work or be fired and In early August 12,000 members _Reagan’s response was to oraer.tnem Controllers Organization (PATCO) “barred for life” from government went on strike all over the USA. jobs. He followed this up by im95 per cent of the membership pounding the unions’ strike funds. voted against a contract proposed Millions of dollars in fines have been | by Ronald Reagan’s Secretary imposed. Fines of 1,000 dollars are for Transportation, Drew Lewis. threatened against each striker. The | The contract had not included Federal Government has officially issues which the controllers moved to have the union decertified considered the most important: by the National Labour Relations ashorter working week and Board as the bargaining agent for air a right to earlier retirement -- controllers. New controllers are being issues which would contribute hired and trained alongside military to the improved safety of airlines. personnel. The media are queueing ’ _ up to see who can launch the most vicious attacks on the strikers. The FBI have declared publicly they are investigating each of the strikers.

Despite these sustained attacks from every institution of capitalist society in the USA the strikers remain confident. Commercial airlines have F been ordered to reduce their flights ._ by as much as 50 per cent. Private and military aircraft*flights have been | drastically reduced. Small airports have closed. Many openly admit that flying is now extremely dangerous and most scheduled flights are empty. ’ The strikers have been greatly inspired by international solidarity.

The strongest support has come from © Canada and Portugal where controll, os have carried out 48 hour protests. ~ Controllers in Australia, New Zealand, France, Britain, Spain, The Netherlands, Italy and the Scandinavian countries have all demonstrated support for the strike.

On August [3th a meeting of the International federation of Air _ Traffic Controllers Associations F representing 61 countries throughout the world demaneded immediate negot_ iations to end the strike.

The attack on air controllers is an opening shot in the employers’, and their government’s, drive against working working people.

The Reagan admuinsstration is determined to break the union. It comes at a time when the USA Congress has massively increased the military bud-get while at the same time approving CO Local 291 Reagan’s plans to drastically cut back m social democratic and ec i But there are signs of a fightback from the labour movement. The American Federation of Labour Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) representing 14 million members organized a September 19 demonstration for social justice and against criminal cutbacks. The name of the protest was ‘Solidarity Day’.

sponsored by organizations of the for changing tactics Besides 100 unions the action was also most oppressed, including major civil rights and women’s groups.

This is a welcome break with tradition for the AFL-CIO. It opposed massive marches against the Vietnam war. According to AFL-CIO president Lane Kirkland “changing times call True: but not in the way Kirkland sees things. America’s rulers are weaker. They can’t push the oppressed around with the same confidence as before. They have been badly shaken up by the the trauma of the Vietnam war. Americans now question their societ more. The air controllers are part of a struggle for change in the USA to the advantage of oppressed people the world over. They deserve our support.