Finding Aids

Guide to the

Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO),
Local 332, Kansas City, Missouri Records
1971-1987

1.5 linear ft.

Accession Number: 90-6
Collection Number: AR397

Prepared by Kevin Kendro
May 1997

Citation: PATCO, Local 332, Kansas City, Missouri, Records, AR397, Box number, Folder number, Special Collections Division, The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries.

Table of Contents

Historical Sketch

Series Description

Scope and Content

Provenance

Literary Rights

Note to the Researcher

Container List

Series I.     Office Files
Series II    Publications
Series III    Artifacts

Historical Sketch

Kansas City International Tower, Local 332, was granted a charter as a local affiliate of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) on October 1, 1973. Local 332 was in the Central Region of the national union and consisted of sixty members.

Local 332 held monthly meetings of the executive board. General membership meetings were held once every two months. The executive board consisted of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and one member from each of the work crews. The day to day business of running the local was conducted at these meetings. The discussions covered local business, such as budget and dues to grievance procedures. Also discussed were mundane topics such as softball tournaments, flower funds and adopt a family programs.

PATCO was founded in 1968 to act as the union representing air traffic controllers who were employed by the Federal Aviation Administration. At its zenith the union had approximately 14,000 members nationally. Roughly 1,500 of these members were located in the Central Region.

During the early 1970's the goals of the union were to gain the members higher pay and better working conditions. Due to the stressful nature of the job, controllers felt that, although they were government employees, they should be paid on a different pay scale than the standard federal employee pay scale. Through the use of work "slowdowns" the union was able to gain increased overtime pay and other minor concessions.

In 1980-1981 PATCO and the FAA entered contract negotiations for a new labor agreement. The primary demands were higher pay and reduced work load. When negotiations broke down, the union threatened a strike. The U.S. government took the position that under the law any strike by employees of the federal government is a federal offense.

In September of 1981 Local 332, along with the national union, went out on a nationwide strike. President Ronald Reagan announced that any controller who had not returned to work within forty-eight hours would be terminated. The impasse was not resolved. Two days later all 11,400 members of the union were dismissed from their jobs. Most never regained their positions. In the fall of 1981 Local 332, as well as the entire Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, was decertified by the U.S. government.

Source:

• PATCO, Local 332, Kansas City, Missouri, Records.

Series Description

The PATCO, Local 332, Kansas City, Missouri, Records are arranged in three series:

Series I. Office Files, 1971-1986, bulk 1979-1982. 1.3 linear ft. (3 document boxes plus 6 folders).

Arranged alphabetically, thereunder chronologically. Office memos, correspondence, minutes, legal documents, statements before congressional committees, and office organizational information.

Series II. Publications, 1977-1987, bulk 1977-1984. .2 linear ft. (10 folders).

Arranged alphabetically, thereunder chronologically. PATCO Newsletter, The Sentinel, The Concord, USATCO Newsletter, and newspaper and magazine articles pertaining primarily to the 1981 strike.

Series III. Artifacts, n.d. 1 oversize box.

Consists of two PATCO ballpoint pens, a PATCO lapel button, and PATCO strike placard, one support PATCO poster and charters for Locals 331, 332 and 376. This series also contains a twelve minute film (c.1979) entitled "No Margin for Error: Air Traffic Controller." The color film is presented by PATCO and produced by Maurer, Fleisher, Zor and Anderson, Inc. The film was intended to educate viewers to the nature of the air traffic controllers job.

Scope and Content

The PATCO, Local 332, Kansas City, Missouri, Records consist of materials accumulated from 1971-1987. The records are contained in four document boxes, consisting of eighty folders, and one oversize box. The collection is divided into three series: Office Files, Publications, and Artifacts.

Series I, Office Files, consists of office files created and accumulated from 1971-1986. The bulk of the material covers 1979-1982. These files contain general office management information, pre and post-strike memos and correspondence, minutes from board meetings, statements before congressional committees, legal documents, financial reports, political action committee information and USATCO information.

Series II, Publications, consists of the PATCO Newsletter, The Concord, The Sentinel, and newspaper and magazine articles. These items span the years 1977-1987. The bulk of the material is from 1977-1984. The news articles are from papers around the country and relate to the 1981 strike.

Series III, Artifacts, consists of PATCO ballpoint pens, a PATCO lapel button, a strike placard, and charters for Locals 331, 332, and 376. Also included is a twelve minute film designed to educate the viewer on the importance of the job of air traffic controller.

The material in each series is in alphabetical order and the contents of each folder are in chronological order. Undated material, of which there is very little, is placed in the back of the file.

Provenance Statement

PATCO, Local 332, Kansas City, Missouri, Records were donated to The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries, Special Collections Division, by James A Bangerter on April 27, 1990. The donation was negotiated and acknowledged by Jane Boley. The collection was accessioned by Kevin Kendro.

Literary Rights Statement

Permission to publish material from the PATCO, Local 332, Kansas City, Missouri, Records must be obtained from the Special Collections Division.

Note to the Researcher

See also other PATCO collections in the Special Collections Division.

CONTAINER LIST
Series I. Office Files, 1971-1986

Box 1
Folder Title, Dates, and Description

1. Accident Investigation Information, c.1977. Contains the "PATCO Accident Investigation Handbook," the "Guide for Representation of Air Traffic Controllers Involved in Civil Litigation." There are also four memos relating to aircraft accidents.
2. Cluster Concept, 1980. Contains a memo providing organizational guidelines for all PATCO air control towers. Also contains a memo concerning the arrangement of  facilities in each individual cluster.
3. FAA Contract, 1977. Contains the contract agreement between PATCO and the FAA.
4. FAA Directives to the Kansas City Tower, 1971-1981. Contains memos from the FAA to the Kansas City tower concerning personnel management.
5. Facility Administration Handbook, 1979. Contains the "Facility Administration Handbook."
6. Facility Guide, 1975. Contains Sections I-III of the "PATCO Facility Guide."
7. Facility Guide, 1975. Contains Sections IV-VIII of the "PATCO Facility Guide."
8. Financial Reports, 1976-1981. Contains the annual financial reports from 1976, 1977, and 1978. Also contains a Finance Committee Report, June 1980, and the minutes from the Finance Committee meeting of February 1981.
9. Financial Reports, 1979. Contains the auditors report for 1977 and 1978.
10. Financial Reports, 1980. Contains the minutes of the National Finance Committee meeting of April 1980.
11. GAO Report, 1986. Contains a GAO briefing report to congress entitled "The Air Traffic Control Work Force Opposes Rehiring Fired Controllers." The report pertains to FAA staffing.
12. Immunity Committee, 1979-1981. Contains a legal brief on the FAA changing the immunity program unilaterally, a brief presented by the FAA on immunity arbitration, a memo to the local from the immunity committee, a memo to the facility presidents concerning the arbitrator's decision on a grievance filed by the union against the FAA.
13. Kansas City Tower Modernization Study, 1978. Contains a report addressing proposed updating of the Kansas City Tower, also a letter regarding removal of a stove from the facility.
14. Legal Documents - Arbitrator's Opinion, 1981. Contains the arbitrator's opinion and award in FAA Montgomery Tower vs. PATCO and the arbitrator's opinion and award in PATCO vs. FAA.
15. Legal Documents - Decisions, 1981-1982. Contains a copy of the opinion of the court in USA vs. PATCO. This decision concerns a PATCO counterclaim regarding procedures related to aircraft separation. Also contains a copy of the Montana Board of Labor Appeals decision. The decision indicates that claimants are entitled to receive benefits beginning with the date of the claim.
16. Legal Documents - Leighton, Conklin, 1981-1983. Contains correspondence from the law firm of Leighton, Conklin, Lemov, Jacobs and Buckley to PATCO offices. This includes a control sheet listing the cases being handled by the firm, 1981; a memo regarding retirement benefits in the event of removal due to strike activity, 1981; a letter regarding outcome of MSPB hearing, 1982; and an appeals update, 1983.
17. Legal Documents - Merit System Protection Board, 1981. Contains appellant statement of facts and issues in Richard Hill vs. FAA, Thomas Williams et al Appellants vs. Department of Transportation FAA,interrogatories for Lawrence Moore vs. Department of Transportation FAA, request for production in Thomas Williams et al vs. Department of Transportation. Also includes several standard printed legal forms.
18. Legal Documents - Merit System Protection Board, 1981. Contains instructions for completing the motions for discovery and several standard printed legal forms.
19. Legal Documents - Seminar, n.d. Contains notes from a legal seminar concerning strikers' rights.
20. Leyden, John F., Resignation, 1979-1980. Contains mailgrams concerning Leyden's resignation as president of PATCO and Robert Poli's announced candidacy for the position. Also contains a short speech by Leyden, undated.

Box 2
Folder Title, Dates, and Description

1. Legislative Action Committee, 1978-1979. Contains memos relating to the PATCO political action committee and a statement of the committee's financial condition.
2. Legislative Action Committee, 1979-1980. Contains memos and mailgrams concerning various House bills.
3. Legislative Action Committee, 1981-1984. Contains memos and bulletins pertaining to the political action committee and a membership list.
4. Legislative Action Committee - Facility Manual, 1979. Contains the "Legislative Action Committee Facility Manual."
5. Minutes - Executive Board Meeting, 1979. Contains the agenda for the National Executive Board meeting of January 1979 and the agenda and minutes of the Executive Board meeting of September 1979.
6. Minutes - Executive Board Meeting, May 1979. Contains the agenda and minutes from the National Executive Board meeting of May 1979.
7. Minutes - Executive Board Meeting, January 1980. Contains the agenda and minutes for the January 1980 Executive Board meeting.
8. Minutes - Executive Board Meeting, April 1980. Contains the minutes from the April 1980 Executive Board meeting.
9. Minutes - Executive Board Meeting, July 1980, May 1981. Contains the minutes of conference calls of the Executive Board in July 1980 and May 1981.
10. Minutes - Local 332 Meetings, 1974-1976. Contains the minutes of meetings of Local 332, 1974-1976.
11. Minutes - Local 332 Meetings, 1977-1979. Contains minutes of Local 332 meetings from 1977-1979.
12. Minutes - Local 332 Meetings, 1980-1981. Contains minutes of Local 332 meetings from 1980-1981.
13. Minutes - Local 332 Executive Board Meetings, 1975-1981. Contains the minutes of meetings of the Executive Board of Local 332 from 1975-1981.
14. Office Organizational Guidelines, 1980. Contains an educational package providing guidelines for office organization.
15. PATCO Constitutions, 1977-1979. Contains copies of PATCO constitutions.
16. Post-strike Memos and Correspondence, 1983. Contains post-strike memos to Gary Eads pointing out deficiencies in the post-strike system, such as manpower shortages.
17. Post-strike Memos and Correspondence, 1983. Contains post-strike memos to Gary Eads pointing out deficiencies in the post-strike system.
18. Public Relations, 1978-1981. Contains memos regarding public relations programs, such as fund raising and press kits, also contains a PATCO life insurance plan form.
19. Public Relations - Booklet, 1978. Contains a PATCO public relations program handbook.

Box 3
Folder Title, Dates, and Description

1. Questionnaires, 1979. Contains blank copies of questionnaires #1, 2, 4 and 5, also the results of questionnaires #1 and 2. The questionnaires pertain to job satisfaction and the issues that the union members consider most important for future negotiations.
2. Questionnaire #5, 1981. Contains the analysis of PATCO questionnaire data, pages 1-35.
3. Questionnaire #5, 1981. Contains the analysis of PATCO questionnaire data, pages 36-72.
4. Questionnaire #5, 1981. Contains the raw data for questionnaire #5.
5. Safety Coordinating Committee, 1976-1979. Contains correspondence concerning safety surveys, memos relating to safety hazards and safety inspections.
6. Safety Coordinating Committee, 1980. Contains correspondence and memos relating to safety inspections and safety complaints.
7. Safety Coordinating Committee - Investigation, 1978-1979. Contains an investigation concerning egress from the Kansas City Tower.
8. Safety Coordinating Committee - National, 1978-1980. Contains five memos to facility presidents pertaining to the National Safety Coordinating Committee, also contains the minutes of the October 30, 1979, National Safety Committee meeting.
9. Statement - Bond, Langhorne, 1980.Contains the statement of Langhorne Bond, FAA administrator, before the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation.
10. Statements - Enders, John and Ford, William, 1982. Contains the statement of John Enders, president of the Flight Safety Foundation, before the Subcommittee on Investigations of the Post Office and Civil Service. Also contains the opening statement of William D. Ford before the Subcommittee on Investigations.
11. Statements - Leyden, John, 1979. Contains the statements of John Leyden before the House Ways and Means Oversight Committee and before the House Public Works and Transportation Committee.
12. Statements - Poli, Robert, 1980, Contains the statement of Robert Poli before the Subcommittee on Transportation and before the Subcommittee on Government Activities and Transportation.
13. Statements - Poli, Robert, 1980. Contains the statements of Robert Poli before the Subcommittee on Aviation on August 21, 1980, and August 25, 1980.
14. Statements - Poli, Robert, 1980-1981. Contains the statement of Robert Poli before the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee, Poli's statement before the Subcommittee on Compensation and Employee Benefits and before the House Committee on Appropriations.
15. Statements - Van Buren, Raymond and Hanley, James, 1980. Contains the statement of FAA Director of Air Traffic, Raymond Van Buren, before the Subcommittee on Investigations, and Congressman James Hanley's statement before the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee.
16. Strike Contingency Plan, 1980. Contains the FAA strike contingency plan. Also includes the FAA's contract recommendations.
17. Strike Preparedness Booklet, c.1980. Contains the American Federation of Teachers policy for local strike preparedness.
18. Strike-related Correspondence to Airline Pilots, 1981. Contains two letters to the Airline Pilots Association.
19. Strike-related Memos and Correspondence, 1977-1981. Contains a summary of a strike questionnaire and memos concerning strike negotiations.
20. Strike-related Memos and Correspondence, 1980. Contains notes on pre-strike planning, part one of a three part memo on techniques used by public employers to break a union's effort. Also contains one bulletin concerning how controllers can succeed in the strike.
21. Strike-related Memos and Correspondence, 1980. Contains parts three and four of the three part memo on techniques used by public employers to break a union's effort.
22. Strike-related Memos and Correspondence, 1981. Contains memos and correspondence pertaining the September 1981 strike. Also contains two flyers advertising strike rallies.
23. Strike-related Memos and Correspondence, 1982. Contains a petition, a letter from new PATCO president Gary Eads, other strike related memos.
24. Synopsis of Executive Board Meeting, 1979-1980. Contains a synopsis of the National Executive Board meetings held September 28, 1979, January 25, 1980, and May 8, 1980.
25. Synopsis of Executive Board Meeting, 1981. Contains the synopsis of the Executive Board meeting held February 3, 1981.

Box 4
Folder Title, Dates, and Description

1. Systems Errors Reports, 1977-1979. Contains eight systems errors reports, 1977-1979.
2. Unsatisfactory Condition Reports, 1972-1979. Contains reports filed by employees concerning unsatisfactory working conditions.
3. Unsatisfactory Condition Reports, 1980. Contains reports filed by employees concerning unsatisfactory working conditions. Contains a memo updating the UCR program and memos and correspondence about an employee grievance.
4. USATCO, 1982-1984. Contains United States Air Traffic Controllers Organization information. USATCO National Newsletter, USATCO political action committee memo, USATCO application and letters to members, letter requesting information on PATCO and USATCO members, letter from U.S. Representative Alan Wheat stating that fired controllers cannot be rehired.
5. USATCO, 1984. Contains USATCO bylaws, reprint of lead case decisions, and a report on ATC hearings.
6. USATCO, 1984. Contains a handwritten incidence worksheet.

Series II. Publications, 1977-1987

Box 4
Folder Title, Dates, and Description

7. The Concord, 1978. Contains January, March, July and September copies of PATCO Central News: The Concord and one November 1978 PATCO Central Editorial.
8. IEEE Spectrum, 1986. Contains a copy of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers publication, IEEE Spectrum, November 1986.
9. The Lifeline and Presidential Update, 1980-1986. Contains three PATCO Lives - The Lifeline publications, The Presidential Update publication from 1980-1982 sporadic. Also contains miscellaneous bulletins and publications from 1980-1982.
10. Newspaper and Magazine Articles, 1977-1981, n.d. Contains newspaper and magazine articles relating to air traffic and air safety. There are several undated clippings placed at the back of the folder.
11. Newspaper and Magazine Articles, 1982-1987. Contains newspaper and magazine articles relating to air traffic and air safety.
12. PATCO and FAA Agreement, 1978. Contains a pocket sized manual of the 1978 agreement, also a PATCO pamphlet "No Margin for Error."
13. PATCO Newsletter, 1978. Contains six PATCO Newsletters. Also contains "A Special Message From President John F. Leyden," dated August 1978.
14. PATCO Newsletter, 1979. Contains five newsletters.
15. The Sentinel, 1979. Contains copies of The Sentinel.
16. The Sentinel, 1980. Contains copies of The Sentinel.

Series III. Artifacts, n.d.

Oversize Box 318

This series consists of one oversize box containing a PATCO lapel button, two PATCO ballpoint pens, a strike placard, a support PATCO poster, the charters for Locals 331, 332, and 376. Also contains a twelve minute film illustrating the nature of the air traffic controllers job. The film is in color and produced by Maurer, Fleisher, Zon and Anderson, Inc. (c.1979).