Labor: how I learned to hate Ronald Reagan and stop worrying

Twenty-five years ago, on Aug. 3, 1981, more than 12,000 members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization walked off the job, setting off a chain of events that would redefine labor relations in America.

In response to the walkout, President Ronald Reagan issued one of the defining statements of his presidency. He said the striking air-traffic controllers were in violation of the law; if they did not report to work within 48 hours, their jobs would be terminated.

Reagan carried out his threat.

I was just a few days old when Reagan decided to fuck labor in the ass for all time.

NPR covers the 25 year anniversary of the greatest single blow of destruction to progressive economics in my generation.