Question

Use the excerpt from the speech on the air traffic controllers strike to answer the question.

Using the excerpt from Reagan's speech about air traffic controllers, answer (a), (b), and (c).

In 1–2 sentences, explain is the primary purpose of this speech.
In 2–3 sentences, describe the rationale Reagan provides for his proposed actions.
In 1–2 sentences, identify the ultimate outcome of the situation Reagan describes in the speech.

Excerpt from Ronald Reagan’s Speech on the Air Traffic Controllers Strike, 1981
This morning at 7 a.m. the union representing those who man America's air traffic control facilities called a strike. This was the culmination of 7 months of negotiations between the Federal Aviation Administration and the union. At one point in these negotiations agreement was reached and signed by both sides, granting a $40 million increase in salaries and benefits. This is twice what other government employees can expect. It was granted in recognition of the difficulties inherent in the work these people perform. Now, however, the union demands are 17 times what had been agreed to—$681 million. This would impose a tax burden on their fellow citizens which is unacceptable.

. . .

Let me make one thing plain. I respect the right of workers in the private sector to strike. Indeed, as president of my own union, I led the first strike ever called by that union. I guess I'm maybe the first one to ever hold this office who is a lifetime member of an AFL-CIO union. But we cannot compare labor-management relations in the private sector with government. Government cannot close down the assembly line. It has to provide without interruption the protective services which are government's reason for being.

. . .

I must tell those who fail to report for duty this morning they are in violation of the law, and if they do not report for work within 48 hours, they have forfeited their jobs and will be terminated.

Answer 1

(a) The primary purpose of this speech was to address the air traffic controllers strike that occurred in 1981, and to announce the government's response to the strike.

(b) Reagan's rationale for his proposed actions was that the demands of the air traffic controllers' union were unreasonable and would impose an unacceptable tax burden on American citizens. He also argued that the government has a responsibility to provide uninterrupted protective services, which cannot be compared to labor-management relations in the private sector.

(c) The ultimate outcome of the situation Reagan describes in the speech was that the striking air traffic controllers who did not return to work within 48 hours were terminated. The strike was broken, and the government hired and trained new controllers to replace those who were fired, resulting in a significant shift in the balance of power between labor and management in the United States.