August 5, 1981

On August 3, 1981 the now-defunct union PATCO led its members (the air traffic controllers of the day) in an illegal labor action - a strike, an action specifically barred to air traffic controllers by law upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1971.

Reagan branded the strike illegal. He threatened to fire any controller who failed to return to work within 48 hours. Federal judges levied fines of $1 million per day against the union.

Two days later, on August 5, President Ronald Reagan fired still-striking air traffic controllers and imposed a lifetime ban on hiring them back into any federal position - a substantially gentler approach than the law would have allowed (fines or a one year jail term).

Today we have Wisconsin. And many precedents for ordering striking government workers back to their jobs. And for fining and terminating the employment of those who do not comply.

Gov. Scott Walker? It's time to stop playing nice. Start bringing out the attorneys and the pain. Enough is enough. And should Wisconsin law allow, begin recall proceedings against the fled legislators refusing to do their job on the basis of nonfeasance.