Ronald Reagan on Jobs

President of the U.S., 1981-1989; Republican Governor (CA)

Worker & managers join forces to rebuild economy

It is time for a new set of ground rules for the interaction between business and labor, one they jointly determine and then present to Congress. While many fervently argue that such a conciliatory role for government is presently impossible, the only president of an AFL-CIO affiliated union who reached our nation's highest office--Ronald Reagan--disagreed: "Unions represent some of the freest institutions in this land. Too often, discussions about the labor movement dwell only on disputes or corruption or strikes. It also might be nice for once if we could hear about the thousands of hard-working, honest, union officials who have done so much to improve your movement and raise the standard of living for all Americans. So instead of workers and management trying to solve the dilemma by opposing each other, it's time you joined forces, so you can get on with the task of rebuilding our economy. Saving American jobs and raising the standard of living for all our people--that's part of the job. Source: Seize Freedom, by Rep. Thad McCotter, p. 85-86 , Feb 8, 2011

Fired PATCO workers who broke oath not to strike

On August 3, 1981, 13,000 Professional Air Traffic Controllers (PATCO) walked off the job. President Reagan asked, “Don’t these air traffic controllers take the same oath that everyone who works for the US takes, promising not to strike against the government?”

I said I was sure the controllers signed that oath because we all had. I still do not know how he knew about it, because although the President takes the oath, I am sure he does not sign a form not to strike.

Reagan announced that any air traffic controller who did not return to work would be fired. He said, “Let me read the oath taken by these employees: ‘I am not participating in any strike against the Government of the US or any agency thereof, and I will not so participate while an employee of the Government of the US or any agency thereof.’”

Here was the Great Communicator reading from an oath that every one of those controllers had signed. Suddenly it was as if the controllers had been caught betraying their country.

Source: Leadership, autobiography by Rudolph Giuliani, p.200-201 , Oct 1, 2002

Click here for definitions & background information on Jobs. Click here for a profile of Ronald Reagan. Click here for VoteMatch responses by Ronald Reagan. Click here for AmericansElect.org quiz by Ronald Reagan.
*Other past presidents on Jobs:*	*Ronald Reagan on other issues:*
*Former Presidents:* George W. Bush(R,2001-2009) Bill Clinton(D,1993-2001) George Bush Sr.(R,1989-1993) Ronald Reagan(R,1981-1989) Jimmy Carter(D,1977-1981) Gerald Ford(R,1974-1977) Richard Nixon(R,1969-1974) Lyndon Johnson(D,1963-1969) John F. Kennedy(D,1961-1963) *Past Vice Presidents:* V.P.Dick Cheney V.P.Al Gore V.P.Dan Quayle Sen.Bob Dole V.P.Walter Mondale *Political Parties:* Democratic Party Republican Party Libertarian Party Green Party Reform Party Natural Law Party Tea Party	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty

Page last updated: Apr 28, 2013