Air traffic controllers defeated Trump. That's worker power

[turbinetree]

Robert Reich
Public workers who lack any formal power to strike – but have the informal power not to work – are becoming a force in American politics and labor relations

Air traffic controllers hold the trump card (pardon the expression) in upcoming negotiations between Donald Trump and congressional Democrats over border security.

That’s because the president and the Republicans know that another shutdown would likely cause a repeat of what happened last Friday, when so many of the nation’s air traffic controllers called in sick that America’s air traffic came to a near standstill. Hours later, Trump agreed to reopen the government without funding for his wall.

Never underestimate the power of airport delays to arouse the nation. Nancy Pelosi deserves credit for sticking to her guns, but the controllers brought the country to its knees.

Trump is threatening another shutdown if he doesn’t get his way by 15 February , when government funding will run out again. “Does anybody really think I won’t build the WALL?” he tweeted Sunday, after his acting chief of staff said the he was prepared to shutter the government for a second time.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/29/air-traffic-controllers-defeated-trump

[a kennedy]

1. Kinda funny, this whole union busting thing, started with the AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS!!!

Was under Raygun right?? Nice to see the power to the people coming back big time......BOUT TIME.

[turbinetree]

2. Yepper, spot on.................

I was just starting to get into aviation as a mechanic for the airlines industry when this happened , and I can still remember PATCO sided with Reagan and the teamsters also during the election, and I thought why, he hates unions, and one of the first things Reagan does, when the controllers ask for more money and bennies, and to get more people into the system because of the retirement factor, he says no, and they went on strike, and then he comes right out and says hey National Guard, you do the job....................what are they going to say NO, even if some of them were with PATCO.................and now this

[malaise]

4. Great point

If he dares to shakedown workers again I expect the ATCs will go on sick outs from day one.

[Kurt V.]

3. this is why we need sharrod brown. Countervailing power. imo

[rampartc]

5. they certainly helped

"non essential employees?"