This Week in NATCA/Labor History
Thursday, September 23, 2010


THIS WEEK IN NATCA/ATC/AVIATION HISTORY:

September 29, 1988 — NATCA’s first contract: President Steve Bell, Vice President Ray Spickler and contract negotiation team Co-Chairman Mark Kutch present the union’s first proposal to Joseph Noonan, FAA director of Labor and Employee Relations. The proposed labor agreement contains about eighty articles.

1922: First demonstration of radar signatures at Anacostia NAS, Washington, D.C.

1989: NATCA established its political action committee (PAC), which grew in the first year to $21,163.


THIS WEEK IN LABOR HISTORY:

1878: Upton Sinclair, socialist and author of "The Jungle"—published on this day in 1906—born in Baltimore, Md.

1887: According to folklorist John Garst, steel-drivin’ man John Henry, a slave, outperformed a steam hammer on this date at the Coosa Mountain Tunnel or the Oak Mountain Tunnel of the Columbus and Western Railway (now part of the Norfolk Southern) near Leeds, Ala. Other researchers place the contest near Talcott, W. Va.

1965: International Hod Carriers, Building & Common Laborers Union of America changes name to Laborers' International Union.