Commentary

Reagan Fires CMU Faculty PATCO Strikers

Faculty members at Central Michigan University who are demanding higher salary and benefits than the university is prepared to pay have voted to defy state law and go on strike. Here's how President Ronald Reagan famously dealt with another group of government employees who thought they were indispensable and above the law:

“It is for this reason that I must tell those who fail to report for duty this morning, they are in violation of the law, and if they do not report for work within 48 hours they have forfeited their jobs and will be terminated. End of statement.”

More quotes:

“This (demand) would impose a tax burden on their fellow citizens which is unacceptable . . .”

“I respect the right of workers in the private sector to strike. But we cannot compare labor management relations in the private sector with government.”

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.