This Week in NATCA/Labor History
Thursday, February 02, 2012

THIS WEEK IN NATCA HISTORY

February 2, 1987
: Eastern Region meeting

About thirty-five controllers from seven states meet near Baltimore-Washington International Airport to discuss organizing and union certification election strategy. Eastern Regional Representative Steve Bell chairs the five-hour session.

Former PATCO President John Leyden tells the group that controllers need an organization to speak for them on Capitol Hill. He says Congress wants to hear from the rank and file, not just managers.

Howard Johannssen, president of the Professional Airways Systems Specialists, urges the group not to relax its campaign drive. “Winning an election is not enough,” he says. “A seventy, eighty, ninety percent win . . . that’s the message of strength. With that, you’ll get back the respect of the public.”

THIS WEEK IN LABOR HISTORY

1978: After scoring successes with representation elections conducted under the protective oversight of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board, the United Farm Workers of America officially ends its historic table grape, lettuce and wine boycotts.