Closing airports - Action is selfish and unacceptable

ALMOST 30 years ago – August 3, 1981 – more than 12,000 of America’s air traffic controllers walked off the job, setting off a chain of events that would change labour relations in America forever.

Republican President Ronald Reagan immediately issued one of the defining statements of his presidency. He said the air traffic controllers were breaking the law and if they did not return to work within 48 hours he would fire them all. He carried out his threat.

In the face of today’s threatened closure of the country’s three main airports because of action by air traffic controllers it is tempting to call for a similar declaration. It might be good for a testosterone rush and get a cheer from the boys in the back bar, especially the Ryanair executives if they are allowed any time off, but it is not the kind of response the country can endure right now.