The shortage in US air traffic controllers is not new, but it has reached a critical juncture. AdvertisementFor years, air traffic controllers have seen their ranks diminish, to the point where 10-hour days and six-day workweeks have become increasingly common among this group tasked with preserving safety in America's skies. However, the nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers is not a new phenomenon. In August 1981, then-President Ronald Reagan fired 11,000 striking air traffic controllers, in what was a pivotal moment for the labor movement in the US. "The nation absolutely needs more air traffic controllers, and growing the work force will result in better working conditions and more flexibility," she added.

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Persons: they're, —, Ronald Reagan, Reagan, Bill Clinton, Neil Burke, John F, Burke, Jeannie Shiffer Organizations: Times, Service, The New York Times, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, The Times, Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport Locations: United States, New York