James D. Wright Papers 1962-1993 1970-1985

ArchivalResource

James D. Wright Papers AR400., 1962-1993, 1970-1985

James D. Wright Papers 1962-1993 1970-1985

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utarl/00180/00180-P.html

James D. Wright was an air traffic controller and a member of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO). Wright entered the FAA Air Traffic Academy in 1962. After his graduation, Wright was assigned to the Houston ATC facility. In 1971, Wright was fired by the FAA for participating in a sick-out. One of only six individuals dismissed, Wright successfully fought the FAA action, and returned to his job in 1972 with full pay. Wright later became a recruiter for PATCO. By 1979, Wright was transferred to the Oakland Air Traffic control center. On August 3, 1981, Wright participated in the PATCO strike, an action that would cost him his job. Wright received retraining as an air machinist and went to work for United Airlines in 1985. He continued to support PATCO through letter writing and participating in PATCO reunions. He died in 1994. The collection includes correspondence, legal documents, newspapers clippings, newsletters, air traffic controllers work materials, and materials relating to both PATCO and USATCO. The bulk of the collection is correspondence, clippings, and documents relating to both the 1970 PATCO sick-out and the 1981 PATCO strike. The legal documents, 1981-1983, concerning the 1981 PATCO strike are extensive, and include decisions and orders stating where all cases were heard along with each parties’ representatives. Included also are Wright’s legal files from the PATCO sick-out, 1969-1971. The collection contains issues of PATCO Lives, 1985-1993, and USATCO, 1983-1984, as well as various issues of local PATCO newsletters and FAA World magazines, 1980-1981.

eng,

Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library