Had Been The Union's Leader When Air Traffic Controllers Went On Strike

Robert Poli, the man who was the leader of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) when more than 11,000 air traffic controllers were fired by President Ronald Reagan, passed away on September 15 at the age of 78.

A notice was posted on the PATCO Facebook page as well as on the former Union's website.

A blog titled "History Rat" recounts that Poli had been the head of the union in 1981 when its members went on strike demanding higher pay and increased benefits. But while a 1962 Executive Order signed by President John F. Kennedy gave federal workers the right or organized into unions, it specifically prohibited them from going out on strike. Reagan gave the controllers who walked off the job 48 hours to return to work, and about 2,000 did. The remainder were terminated, and prevented from ever working as air traffic controllers again.
While the union continued for a time with lawsuits and other legal efforts, it eventually ran out of money and could no longer be sustained.

The provision against rehiring fired air traffic controllers was lifted by President Bill Clinton in 1993.
The Facebook posting indicates that Poli would be cremated, and that the arrangements are under the direction of the Cremation Society of Idaho.

(Image from Facebook page)

FMI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_Air_Traffic_Controllers_Organization_(1968)