This Week in NATCA/Labor History
Tuesday, May 31, 2011


THIS WEEK IN NATCA HISTORY:

May 29, 1987 — Equipment modernization: The FAA commissions the first Host Computer System at Seattle Center. The new equipment replaces IBM’s aging 9020 mainframe computers.

June 3, 1994 — Equipment modernization: Citing lengthy delays and cost overruns of about $1.5 billion, FAA Administrator David Hinson cancels most of the Advanced Automation System project. However, he allows the Display System Replacement (DSR) project to move forward at the nation’s 21 en route centers. DSR consists of 20-inch-square color monitors powered by IBM RISC-6000 computers, but it does not offer new functionality.

June 1, 2000 — NATCA organizing: The FLRA certifies NATCA as the exclusive bargaining representative for the FAA’s 180 automation specialists (AOS 300/400).



THIS WEEK IN LABOR HISTORY:

June 1, 1888: The Ladies Federal Labor Union Number 2703, based in Illinois, was granted a charter from the American Federation of Labor. Women from a wide range of occupations were among the members, who ultimately were successful in coalescing women’s groups interested in suffrage, temperance, health, housing, and child labor reform to win state legislation in these areas.

June 2, 1924: A constitutional amendment declaring that "Congress shall have power to limit, regulate, and prohibit the labor of persons under eighteen years of age" was approved by the Senate, following the lead of the House five weeks earlier. But only 28 state legislatures ever ratified the amendment -- the last three in 1937 -- so it has never taken effect.

June 2, 1952: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that President Harry Truman acted illegally when he ordered the Army to seize the nation’s steel mills to avert a strike.