As a former broadcast journalist based in Washington DC, I was present when the US traffic controllers went on strike, paralysing the entire country's airlines.
President Ronald Reagan’s response was swift. He fired all striking air traffic controllers and banned them from working in that job for 10 years. The US Air Force took over, and flights resumed within 24 hours. The 10-year ban remained and the strikers had to seek new jobs. Many of them became taxi drivers.
I think the SA government should seriously consider a similar response.
Andrew Stephen
Washington
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LETTER | Ten-year ban for striking, that should fix SA
When airline workers in the US downed tools, the government took swift action — and SA should too
As a former broadcast journalist based in Washington DC, I was present when the US traffic controllers went on strike, paralysing the entire country's airlines.
President Ronald Reagan’s response was swift. He fired all striking air traffic controllers and banned them from working in that job for 10 years. The US Air Force took over, and flights resumed within 24 hours. The 10-year ban remained and the strikers had to seek new jobs. Many of them became taxi drivers.
I think the SA government should seriously consider a similar response.
Andrew Stephen
Washington
• You too can join the discussion. Send your thoughts to letters@timeslive.co.za. Please keep your letters to 350 words or less. Include your name, contact number and where you are writing from. Letters will be edited before publication. While we appreciate your feedback, submissions that don’t adhere to our comment policy will not be considered.
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