This Week in NATCA/Labor History
Wednesday, December 29, 2010


THIS WEEK IN NATCA/ATC HISTORY:


Dec. 31, 1981 — PATCO leadership changes/PASS certification: Robert Poli reluctantly resigns as president of PATCO after a late-evening conference call among PATCO leaders. They maintain that the administration will not change its stance toward the union until its leadership changes. Vice President Robert Meyer steps down, as well. In a close election the next day, Central Region Vice President Gary Eads succeeds Poli and Western RVP Domenic Torchia is elected vice president.

    The FLRA certifies the Professional Airways Systems Specialists to represent the FAA’s electronics technicians.


THIS WEEK IN LABOR HISTORY:

Dec. 23, 1908: AFL officers found in contempt of court for urging a labor boycott of Buck's Stove and Range Company in St Louis, Mo., where the Metal Polishers were on strike for the 9-hour day

Dec. 23, 2008: Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the nation's largest employer, with 1.4 million "associates," agrees to settle 63 wage and hour suits across the U.S., for a grand total of between $352 million and $640 million. It was accused of failure to pay overtime, requiring off-the-clock work, and failure to provide required meal and rest breaks.

Dec. 26, 1877: Workingmen’s Party is reorganized as the Socialist Labor Party.