Did Reagan agree that air traffic controllers could go on strike?

President Reagan stated that the air traffic controllers did not have the right to strike. Federal members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization went on strike in 1981 violating a federal law prohibiting government unions from striking. President Reagan stated that if the air traffic controllers "do not report for work within 48 hours, they have forfeited their jobs and will be terminated." When they did not return to work, President Reagan carried out his threat. He fired 11,345 striking air traffic controllers who had ignored his order. He used supervisors and military controllers to handle the nation's commercial air traffic until new controllers could be hired and trained.