Final answer:
President Ronald Reagan responded to the air traffic controllers' strike in 1981 by firing over 10,000 striking controllers and replacing them with military personnel, effectively dissolving the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) and setting a new precedent for labor relations.
Step-by-step explanation:
In response to the air traffic controllers' strike in 1981, President Ronald Reagan took a firm stance against the unionized workers. The controllers were part of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO), and they initiated a strike demanding better working conditions and a pay increase. Despite the potential safety improvements that the controllers argued their demands would bring, Reagan viewed the strike as illegal, given that federal employees are not legally permitted to strike. Reagan declared that if the controllers did not return to work within 48 hours, they would be dismissed. When the controllers persisted with the strike, Reagan followed through on his threat, firing more than 10,000 controllers and replacing them with military personnel. This swift action effectively decimated PATCO and sent a clear message to labor unions about the administration's stance on union strikes. The firing of the air traffic controllers had long-lasting implications for labor relations and was seen as ushering in of an era where employers felt more empowered to replace striking workers.