26.03.2013 Views

Against the Wind - National Air Traffic Controllers Association

Against the Wind - National Air Traffic Controllers Association

Against the Wind - National Air Traffic Controllers Association

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

28<br />

1981<br />

<strong>Against</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Wind</strong><br />

31<br />

July<br />

What’s in a Name?<br />

Robert Poli announces PATCO will go on strike August 3 unless its demands<br />

are met. Eleventh-hour talks begin between <strong>the</strong> union and <strong>the</strong> FAA.<br />

Japphire<br />

<br />

Built on <strong>the</strong> mudflats of <strong>the</strong> Potomac River,<br />

two miles south of The Mall, Washington<br />

<strong>National</strong> <strong>Air</strong>port memorialized <strong>the</strong> nation’s<br />

first president.<br />

In 1998, to <strong>the</strong> outrage of controllers<br />

across <strong>the</strong> country, Congress passed a law<br />

renaming <strong>the</strong> airport in honor of <strong>the</strong> president<br />

responsible for firing more than 11,000 of<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir brethren.<br />

Speaking against <strong>the</strong> proposal while<br />

lawmakers were considering <strong>the</strong> action, former<br />

NATCA Executive Vice President Randy<br />

Schwitz said: “To name a major U.S. airport<br />

after Reagan would be a slap in <strong>the</strong> face to<br />

today’s controllers and <strong>the</strong> many thousands<br />

terminated still on <strong>the</strong> street waiting to be rehired<br />

by <strong>the</strong> Federal Aviation Administration.<br />

I’d ra<strong>the</strong>r have a hot poker in my eye than<br />

have an airport named after him.”<br />

To this day, many controllers refuse to<br />

call DCA by its new name.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!