On August 3, 1981, almost 12,000 members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) went on strike. The union, which represented the workers who direct airplanes to ensure flight safety, demanded higher wages and better working conditions. President Reagan ordered PATCO members to return to work, and when they did not, he fired them. In this inquiry, students will investigate the compelling question, “What is the legacy of the PATCO strikes?