Against federal law for air traffic controllers or any other group of Government workers to strike. When you sign the paperwork to go civil service and take the oath, you agree not to strike. The ATC's threatened Pres Reagan, he told them not to strike or he would fire them, they struck, and he fired! Civil Service Unions are some of the worst if you ask me -- waste of money since they hold Government jobs (what a joke!).
Same thing happened at Tinker AFB, OK, back when I worked at the HQ at WPAFB, OH -- the wage board people threatened to go on strike, the Commander said if you do, I will fire you. They kept up the rhetoric and personnel had the paperwork ready to go for anyone that went on strike. They backed off when they found out he was serious -- you strike as a Government worker -- you get fired! There was no negotiation.
That is absolutely true. I signed the oath when I was hired as a telephone operator at the Pentagon a long time ago(clue LBJ was President, I was 11 yoa LOL). The ATC's in the military had to do the job until the new ATC's were hired and trained. My friend got unbelievable overtime pay during the few years after the wholesale firing.but it was totally necessary.