10.2190/DF2R-7A46-NE6E-NR29 DF2R7A46NE6ENR29 0 THE UNMAKING OF A UNION 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=DF2R7A46NE6ENR29 4 DAVID S. DICKINSON This article examines the causes, conduct and consequences of the August 1981 strike of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO). The focus is on the political and economic aspects of the strike (as distinguished from the legal proceedings). The author concludes, first, that there is not likely to be a repeat of this kind of massive concerted action against the Federal Government anytime soon and, second, that there is likely to be only a slight impact from the PATCO strike on public sector labor relations.