The Federal Aviation Administration says flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted briefly due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility.
In theory, that’s true. In practice, most people aren’t willing to risk jail time
Consider what happened with controllers under Reagan. Nearly all went on strike. Of those that went on strike, there were 2 groups: Those that crossed the line and went back to work when ordered, and those that held the line in solidarity
Those that crossed the line were allowed to keep their jobs. Those that didn’t were immediately fired and barred from ever working for the federal government again. That effectively meant their career was over. They could never work as an air traffic controller again. Jail is an even bigger threat than that
It’s more or less a literal prisoner dilemma, except we have a historical precedent for it. I think it’s incredibly shitty, but realistically I don’t see it working
This isn’t the same situation. ATCs just can’t be replaced this time. Reagan showed why that’s an incredibly bad idea, and the repercussions of doing it again would destroy the civil air transport system.
So yes, they can arrest them if they like or bar them from becoming ATCs again. The situation remains that air travel won’t exist anymore.
The federal government could easily say to the strikers: Get back to work now, or you go to jail
It is illegal for ATC to go on strike, and the punishment can include jail time. Likely most would capitulate
OK, they go to jail.
If they hold out, the government really has nothing they can do.
Solidarity. Solidarity. Solidarity.
In theory, that’s true. In practice, most people aren’t willing to risk jail time
Consider what happened with controllers under Reagan. Nearly all went on strike. Of those that went on strike, there were 2 groups: Those that crossed the line and went back to work when ordered, and those that held the line in solidarity
Those that crossed the line were allowed to keep their jobs. Those that didn’t were immediately fired and barred from ever working for the federal government again. That effectively meant their career was over. They could never work as an air traffic controller again. Jail is an even bigger threat than that
It’s more or less a literal prisoner dilemma, except we have a historical precedent for it. I think it’s incredibly shitty, but realistically I don’t see it working
This isn’t the same situation. ATCs just can’t be replaced this time. Reagan showed why that’s an incredibly bad idea, and the repercussions of doing it again would destroy the civil air transport system.
So yes, they can arrest them if they like or bar them from becoming ATCs again. The situation remains that air travel won’t exist anymore.
no…facepalm
Really? You think this is an unprecedented situation in labor history?
alright we will do it your way, tell the ATC workers to stand their ground and goto jail. we will see how many stand in “solidarity”
They can quit. They are not slaves.