Finding Aids

Guide to the

Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization,
Local 601, Anchorage, Alaska, Records
1968-1988

PatcoOPT.jpg (4505 bytes)

3.3 linear feet

Accession Number: 89-10
Collection Number: AR389

Prepared by David Bonfils Miller
May 1997

CITATION: Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, Local 601, Anchorage, Alaska, Records, AR389, Box number, Folder number, Special Collections Division,
The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries.

Table of Contents

Historical Sketch
Series Description
Scope and Content Note
Provenance
Literary Rights
Note to the Researcher
Container List
Series I. Office Files, 1968-1981
Series II. Newsletters, Journals, and Publications, 1968-1988
Series III. Newspaper, Journal, and Magazine Clippings, 1972-1988
Series IV. Artifacts

Historical Sketch

The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) was founded in 1969. Since the members of this union were federal employees, the union and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were constantly at the bargaining table trying to create a satisfactory union contract. Among the issues discussed were working conditions, hours required, pay ceilings, and workers’ rights. One of the central issues on which neither party could compromise was the workers’ right to strike.

PATCO Local 601, Anchorage, Alaska, was charter in 1975. By early 1976 it had eighty members spread thinly across the entire state. It had to goals: the first was to improve the working conditions for the air traffic controllers and the second was to generate support at the local level for the national union. The officials of the local consistently supported the goals of PATCO. They urged the local members to join the national organization, always pointing out the advantages of group solidarity. Even though Local 601 always supported PATCO, it also expressed the feeling of being forgotten by national headquarters.

This feeling played a part in their desire to have a separate local union. The main reason was that Alaska had unique problems best solved at the local level. At every meeting and in every newsletter the same issues were discussed without resolution, and that was working without needed equipment, working overtime without pay, working too many hours a week for safety, and the gap between the actual working conditions and the FAA guidelines.

The battle with the FAA in Alaska had already begun by the time that the Local 601 had formed. An FAA Operational Readiness Inspection in February 1976 was based on the assumption that some day the air traffic controllers in Alaska might strike, anticipating the national strike by five years.

In August 1981, when the members of PATCO walked off the job or failed to report to work, the Reagan administration issued more than 11,000 letters of termination, essentially firing the rank and file of the union. Additionally, the courts issued orders impounding the union’s funds, which had been set up to cover periods of strike. With this termination, both the national and the local unions were disbanded. Between 1982 and 1986, individuals had to reapply for employment as federal employees and many were never rehired.

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Sources:

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Series Description
Series I. Office Files, 1968-1982. 1.2 linear ft. (2.8 document boxes, 45 folders).

Arranged alphabetically by folder topic, with the materials in each folder arranged chronologically. Material includes congressional testimony; contract proposals; Federal Regulations for Negotiating Teams; Labor Relations Monitor; negotiating correspondence; Negotiating Teams’ Manual; material, reference material, and photographs; PATCO endorsement of Governor Reagan; updates; special reports; post-strike and pre-strike correspondence; press releases; public laws; results of local and national questionnaires; strike cartoons; strike material; and support organizations.

Series II. Newsletters, Journals, and Publications, 1968-1988. 1.1 linear ft. (2.6 document boxes, 43 folders).

Arranged alphabetically by publication title, and thereunder chronologically. Materials include newsletters, journals, and other publications.

Series III. Newspaper, Journal, and Magazine Clippings, 1972-1988. 0.6 linear ft. (1.6 document boxes, 24 folders).

Arranged chronologically from 1972 to 1988; submitted from local and national sources. The two most prevalent sources are the Anchorage Daily News and the Anchorage Times.

Series IV. Artifacts. 0.40 linear ft. (1.0 document box, containing numerous artifacts).

Includes air traffic controller’s headset, PATCO union T-shirts, PATCO union clothing bag, union buttons, bumper stickers, and two videotapes.

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Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of the office files, newsletters, and journals of Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, Local 601, in Anchorage, Alaska. These provide an in-depth view of the events leading up to and immediately after the nation-wide strike in 1981. This collection covers the events leading up to the termination of the rank and file of the union. For the actual affect this had on the Anchorage Local 601, the researcher will have to examine the local newspapers from the second series and the clippings from the newspapers.

Series I consists of the congressional testimony of national and regional union representatives before various committees and subcommittees. This series also includes examples of proposed contracts between the union and the FAA. The instructions from the national headquarters to the negotiating teams are in this series. There are the photographs of the negotiating teams members for PATCO and FAA.

Series II holds regional and national newsletters and journals which were distributed from locals, regional, and national headquarters. In this series the local events which affected the Anchorage Local 601 can be studied.

Series III is a collection of clippings from U.S. daily newspapers, magazines, and journals. The events which covered the life and death of PATCO and its heirs, USATCO and NATCO, are here.

Series IV contains the artifacts which were part of the air traffic controller’s belongings during the time before, during, and after the 1981 strike.

Duplicates of all documents, clippings, and photocopied material were discarded. All newspaper, magazine, and journal clippings were photocopied onto acid-free paper and the originals were discarded.

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Provenance Statement

The contents of the collection from PATCO, Local 601, Anchorage, Alaska, were donated to the Texas Labor Archives, Special Collections Division, The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries, on June 21, 1989.

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Literary Rights

Permission to publish material from PATCO, Local 601, Anchorage, Alaska, Records must be obtained from the Special Collections Division.

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Notes to the Researcher

The researcher can extract both local color and national interest from the numerous letters retained in the office files, and from the regional newsletters. Additionally, both sides can be viewed through the many interviews recorded on the videotapes in the artifacts series. The Special Collections Division has other PATCO Locals records and papers presently being processed which may be available for further research.

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Container List
Series I: Office Files, 1968-1982

Box 1
Folder

  1. Congressional Testimony, May 31, 1979-November 26, 1979. Speech of Congressman William L. Clay to PATCO Convention; statement of John F. Leyden; president of PATCO, before SenateAppropriations Committee; Statement of John F. Leyden before the Subcommittee on Civil Service of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service; Professional Airways Systems Specialists (PASS) testimony before House Ways and Means Oversight Committee.
  2. Congressional Testimony, December 10, 1979-June 30, 1980. Letter from administrator Langhorne B. Bond to Chairman Robert B. Duncan, Subcommittee on Transportation, Committee on Appropriations; testimony of John F. Leyden before House Public Works and Transportation Committee; testimony of Robert E. Poli, president of PATCO, to Subcommittee on Transportation, Committee on Appropriations; speech by Congressman Bob Whittaker at the PATCO convention; "Omnibus" lobbying timetable and program; statement of Robert E. Poli before House Committee on Government Operations.
  3. Congressional Testimony, August 16, 1980-August 21, 1980. Testimony of Domenic V. Torchia, regional vice-president, before Subcommittee on Government Activities and Transportation; statement of Robert E. Poli before House Committee on Public Works and Transportation; statement of Robert E. Poli before Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  4. Congressional Testimony, September 30, 1980-June 12, 1981. Subcommittee report of hearings in investigation, Committee on Post Office and Civil Service; statement of Michael J. Simons, Director ofSafety at FAA conference; letter from Lloyd A. Johnson to "Pat"; testimony of Robert E. Poli before Subcommittee on Compensation and Employee Benefits; statement of Robert E. Poli before House Committee on Appropriations; testimony of Patrick Doyce, Legislative Director of PATCO, before House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service.
  5. Congressional Testimony, June 19, 1981. PATCO testimony before Subcommittee on Investigation and Oversight.
  6. Congressional Testimony, September 1, 1981-October 20, 1981. News release on Air Traffic Control Hearings; expanded letter of Thomas J. Dorony; letter from Howard E. Johannssen to Congressman William D. Ford; copy of Congressional Record; statement of J. Lynn Helms before House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service;memorandum from Congressman William D. Ford to Committee on Post Office and Civil Service; opening statement of Chairman William D. Ford at hearings; Congressional Record on Air Traffic Controllers’ strike;opening statement of Chairman Ford; testimony of John F, Leyden before Committee on Post Office and Civil Service.
  7. Congressional Testimony, October 20, 1981. Statement of Howard E. Johannssen before Post Office and Civil Service Committee; testimony of John F. Leyden; testimony of Rod Murray; testimony of Arthur Teatis.
  8. Congressional Testimony, October 23, 1981-March/April 1984. Statement of Senator Lowell Weicker on the strike; list of Congressman, their districts, and clippings; letter from Congressman James M. Jeffords; testimony of Domenic V. Torchia before Subcommittee of Government Activities and Transportation; opening statement of Chairman Elliott H. Levitas; memorandum from George Brandon to regional vice-presidents; report of ATC (Air Traffic Controllers) hearings;
    statement by Tip O’Neill, Speaker of the House.
  9. Contract Proposals, Articles 01-19, c. 1980. Letter from E. V. Curran to Robert E. Poli about contract proposals;contains proposed changes to existing contract.
  10. Contract Proposals, Articles 22-50, c. 1980. Contains proposed changes to existing contract.
  11. Contract Proposals, Articles 51-72, c. 1980. Contains proposed changes to existing contract.
  12. Contract Proposals, Articles 73-99, c. 1980. Contains proposed changes to existing contract.
  13. Federal Regulations for Negotiating Team Reference, n.d. Contains federal regulations as a guide to team.
  14. Labor Relations Monitor, October 31, 1988-December 12, 1980. Varrious topics, including grievances, unfair labor practices and new procedures for filing grievances, published by PATCO.
  15. Negotiating Team Correspondence, March 31, 1976-December 9, 1980. Letters and memoranda concerning the strike and negotiations, proposed settlement agreement between PATCO and FAA. 

Box 2
Folder

  1. Negotiating Team Correspondence, December 19, 1980-November 27, 1981. Letters and memoranda concerning supervisory evaluations program; results from Washington Work Group; legislative analyses; First Annual National SUPCOM position paper.
  2. Negotiating Team Manual, n.d. Provides direction on techniques of negotiation.
  3. Negotiating Team Material, June 26, 1980-June 26, 1981. Minutes of negotiating committee meetings; recommended changes to the 1981 contract proposal package.
  4. Negotiating Team Photographs-FAA, n.d.
  5. Negotiating Team Photographs-PATCO, n.d.
  6. Negotiating Team Reference Material, n.d. Guidelines and reference points; roster of team members.
  7. Negotiations Update Correspondence, December 19, 1980-April 24, 1981. Letters from Robert E. Poli on current state of negotiations.
  8. PATCO Endorsement of Governor Reagan, October 20, 1980. Contains letter from Governor Reagan seeking endorsement letter from Reagan-Bush committee stating PATCO position.
  9. PATCO Presidential Updates, July 5, 1974; April 7, 1980-May 28, 1982. History of union stance and negotiation updates.
  10. PATCO Special Reports, November 25, 1980-May 1, 1981.Information from national headquarters.
  11. Post-strike Legal Correspondence, September 9, 1981-October 20, 1981. Letters from Justice Department.
  12. Post-strike Legal Correspondence, November 5, 1981-December 31, 1981. Letters from Justice Department directing investigation of illegal action by PATCO.
  13. Post-strike Legal Correspondence, March 1, 1982-June 18, 1984. Legal updates from Jack B. Solerwitz; letters from Henry R. Van Cleve to Richard J. Leighton, Esq; decision of Comptroller General in the case of Dr. William Post, Jr.; in the case of Leroy J. Pletten; suit of Hugh McClure vs Members of Executive Board of PATCO; memorandum from Richard J. Leighton; legal updates from Richard J.Leighton; ATC News from Richard J. Leighton; letter with enclosure, from Gary Eads, president of USATCO.
  14. Post-strike Negotiations, October 28, 1981-February 19, 1982. Executive board policy statement, Alaska PATCO; Department of Transportation Employee Representation Rights; press release to KHET, Honolulu, HI.
  15. Post-strike Updates, August 8, 1981-September 28, 1981.PATCO Newsletter, updates on strike; letter from F. Lee Bailey to Roone Arledge, president of Sports and News, ABC News; the Harvey Survey; "Meet the Press" synopsis; AFGE updates; PATCO updates; PATCO news release; letter from Congress.
  16. Post-strike Updates, October 1, 1981-December 26, 1981. National headquarters updates; congressional latter to President Reagan; updates from Domenic V. Torchia; letter from George Brandon to Bob Greene; memorandum from Domenic V. Torchia to Robert E. Poli; letter from Jack Ward to F. Lee Bailey; open letter to Domenic V. Torchia; speech of Robert Poli.
  17. Post-strike Updates, January 5, 1982-April 26, 1982. Letters to/from Chairman William D. Ford; results of national meeting of PATCO solidarity; membership message from Gary Eads; follow-up of Domenic Torchia to regional vice-president; letter from Gary Eads to Lane Kirkland; letters from PATCO members appealing Civil Service rejections.
  18. Post-strike Updates, n.d. Sectional analysis of the revised Air Traffic Controller bill; Union Busting at Any Cost?;
    wage analysis; letter of union solidarity.
  19. Press Releases, January 15, 1975-July 2, 1982. Local and national headquarters’ press releases and notices.
  20. Pre-strike Legal Correspondence, March 13, 1981-June 30, 1981.Letter to Charles Campbell from Richard Lighten;
    letter to Dave Trick from Richard Lighten; letter to George Brandon from Richard Lighten; letter to William French Smith, Attorney General, from Richard Lighten; legal education series.
  21. Proposed Contract Agreement Between PACT and FAA, nod. Contract divided into seventy-eight articles.

Box 3
Folder

  1. Proposed Legislation Before Congress, n.d. Various proposals for bylaws and House bills before Congress affecting professional air traffic controllers.
  2. Public Laws, December 29, 1970 and October 13, 1974. Law 91-596, assuring safe work environment; Law 97-454, Civil Service Reform Act.
  3. Questionnaires-Local and National, n.d. Analysis of surveys of attitudes in regional surveys.
  4. Sample Constitution of PATCO, n.d.
  5. Spouses of Air Traffic Controllers for Action (SATCA) Membership manual, n.d. Divided into twelve subsections ranging from Bylaws, Education, Public Relations, etc.
  6. Strike Cartoon, n.d.
  7. Strike Material, April 15, 1980-December 4, 1981. Educational strike guidelines for committees, communications, and local/cluster concepts.
  8. Strike Material, n.d. Operating plans for various airports, Air Traffic Controller Spouses Organizations (ATCSO).
  9. Support Organizations, n.d. ATCSO constitution, structure, and a newsletter.

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Series II: Newsletters, Journals, and Publications, 1968-1988

Box 3, continued
Folder

  1. Air Traffic Controller Health Change Study, Boston University School of Medicine, August 1978 (Placed at end of Box 7 for ease of arrangement).
  2. Alaska PATCO Newsletters, December 1973-November 25, 1978
  3. Alaska PATCO Newsletters, February 1979-June 1981
  4. Convention PATCO, 1975-1981. These contain the programs for the PATCO annual meetings.
  5. FAA World, Department of Transportation, May 1979, May 1980, August 1980, December 1980
  6. Midnight Sun Newsletters, Anchorage PATCO Local 601,August 1978-February/March 1981
  7. Monitor Newsletters, The Aviation Safety Institute, Early September 1980-Mid-September 1981
  8. Monitor Newsletters, The Aviation Safety Institute, Mid-October 1981-Mid-November 1982
  9. Monitor Newsletters, The Aviation Safety Institute, Early December 1982-Mid-November 1983

Box 4
Folder

  1. Monitor Newsletters, The Aviation Safety Institute, Mid-December 1983-Mid-May 1985
  2. Mountain Wave Newsletters, Denver Tower PATCO, April 20, 1980-March 2, 1981
  3. Open Mike Newsletters, Philadelphia International Tower, February 1980-March 1981
  4. Pacific Newsletters, Honolulu Center PATCO, October 2, 1973-February 1975
  5. Pacific Newsletters, Honolulu Center PATCO, March 1975-November 1977
  6. Pacific Newsletters, Honolulu Center PATCO, December 1977-April 1979
  7. Pacific Newsletters, Honolulu Center PATCO, June 1979-May 1982
  8. PATCO Facility Guide, Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, Suite 706, 2100 M. Street, N. W., Washington, D.C., 20037, n.d. (Placed at the end of Box 7 for ease of arrangement)
  9. PATCO Journals, May/June 1968-January/February 1969
  10. PATCO Journals, April 1969-October 1969
  11. PATCO Journals, December 1969, April 1970, November/December 1975
  12. PATCO Newsletter, National Headquarters, February 23, 1972-September 25, 1973
  13. PATCO Newsletter, National Headquarters, October 24, 1973-June 15, 1974
  14. PATCO Newsletter, National Headquarters, July 5, 1974-December 1974
  15. PATCO Newsletter, National Headquarters, February 23, 1975-February 11, 1976
  16. PATCO Newsletter, National Headquarters, March 11, 1976-January 27, 1977
  17. PATCO Newsletter, National Headquarters, March 4, 1977-January 30, 1978

Box 5
Folder

  1. PATCO Newsletter, National Headquarters, March 10, 1978 December 1978
  2. PATCO Newsletter, National Headquarters, February 1979-January 1980
  3. PATCO Newsletter, National Headquarters, March 25, 1980-June 25, 1982
  4. PATCO Lives Newsletters, National Headquarters, December 17, 1984-January/February 1986
  5. PATCO Lives Newsletters, National Headquarters, March/April 1986-1st Quarter 1988
  6. Pens of PATCO, n.d.
  7. Rocky Mountain Hi Newsletters, Denver Center, March 1, 1980-April 1981
  8. Seattle Needle Newsletters, Seattle Center, October 1980-December 1980
  9. USATCO Newsletter, National Headquarters, August 4, 1982-May 1983
  10. USATCO Newsletter, National Headquarters, June 1983-October 1983
  11. USATCO Newsletter, National Headquarters, November 1983-February 1984
  12. USATCO Newsletter, National Headquarters, March 1984-June 1984
  13. USATCO Newsletter, National Headquarters, July 1984-September 1984
  14. USATCO Newsletter, National Headquarters, October 1984-November/December 1984
  15. USATCO District 3 Newsletters, Kailua, Hawaii, October 1982, April 1983, May 1983, One issue n.d..
  16. Political Action Committee Bulletins, April-1979-October 7, 1981, and USATCO P, A, C, letter dated August 5, 1984
  17. Washington Updates, April 1979-February 20, 1981
  18. Miscellaneous Political Action Materials, January 30, 1981-November 20, 1981
  19. Miscellaneous Newsletters

    Top of Page     Table of Contents    Series I    Series II     Series III    Series IV

Series III: Newspaper, Journal, and Magazine Clippings, 1972-1988

Box 6
Folder

  1. Clippings from U.S. Media, June 1972-July 20, 1978
  2. Clippings from U.S. Media, April 23, 1978-September 4, 1980
  3. Clippings from U.S. Media, September 7, 1980-December 15, 1980
  4. Clippings from U.S. Media, January 5, 1981-April 10, 1981
  5. Clippings from U.S. Media, May 4, 1981-July 31, 1981
  6. Clippings from U.S. Media, August 1, 1981-August 10, 1981
  7. Clippings from U.S. Media, August 11, 1981-August 19, 1981
  8. Clippings from U.S. Media, August 20, 1981-August 31, 1981
  9. Clippings from U.S. Media, September 1, 1981-September 10, 1981
  10. Clippings from U.S. Media, September 11, 1981-September 20, 1981
  11. Clippings from U.S. Media, September 21, 1981-September 30, 1981
  12. Clippings from U.S. Media, October 1, 1981-October 10, 1981
  13. Clippings from U.S. Media, October 11, 1981-October 20, 1981

Box 7
Folder

  1. Clippings from U.S. Media, October 21, 1981-October 31, 1981
  2. Clippings from U.S. Media, November 1, 1981-November 30, 1981
  3. Clippings from U.S. Media, December 1, 1981-December 31, 1981
  4. Clippings from U.S. Media, January 1, 1982-January 31, 1982
  5. Clippings from U.S. Media, February 1, 1982-February 28, 1982
  6. Clippings from U.S. Media, March 1, 1982-April 30, 1982
  7. Clippings from U.S. Media, April 28, 1982-September 30, 1982
  8. Clippings from U.S. Media, October 4, 1982-December 31, 1983
  9. Clippings from U.S. Media, January 1, 1984-December 31, 1985
  10. Clippings from U.S. Media, January 1986-March 1988
  11. Clippings from U.S. Media, n.d.; Air Traffic Controller Health Change Study, Boston University School of Medicine, August 1978; PATCO Facility Guide, Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, Suite 706, 2100 M. Street, N. W., Washington, D. C., 20037, n.d.

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Series IV: Artifacts

Box 8