WASHINGTON -- A chronology of events leading to air traffic controllers' walkout Monday:
Aug. 25, 1980 -- Federal Aviation Administrator Langhorne Bond tells Congress agency could handle only 15 percent of nation's commercial airline traffic if controllers conducted illegal strike on expiration of contract March 15, 1981.
At same hearing, Robert Poli, president of Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, says, 'In no way is PATCO planning to go on strike in 1981 as put forth by the administrator.'
Nov. 7 -- FAA proposes contingency plan to strictly limit commercial airline traffic should strike occur.
Feb. 3, 1981 -- Rep. William Clay, D-Mo., introduces bill to provide controllers 32-hour work week and top pay of more than $70,000.
Feb. 12 -- Negotiations begin between FAA and union on new contract.
March 13 -- Union agrees to bargain beyond March 15 expiration date of old contract and work under terms of expired agreement.
March 15 -- Contract expires. Informational picketing begins at airports across country.
April 10 -- Federal mediator Kenneth Moffett assigned to negotiations.
April 28 -- Talks break off after 37 meetings.
May 22 -- Union announces it has set June 22 strike deadline if no tentative agreement reached with FAA.
May 26 -- FAA Administrator J. Lynn Helms sends letter to supervisors asking they tell controllers a strike would be illegal and could lead to dismissals. Similar letters go to each of 17,000 controllers three days later.
June 15 -- FAA presents final offer in informal talks with union under auspices of mediator: $39.3 million package providing average pay increase of $4,000 annually.
June 17 -- Informal talks break off.
June 18 -- Civil Aeronautics Board issues emergency rules assigning priorities for those boarding domestic flights, and exempts no-smoking and 'bumping' rules in event of strike.
June 19 -- Union chief Poli, testifying before Congress, agrees to request by Rep. James Howard, D-N.J., to meet with Transportation Secretary Drew Lewis; negotiations resume.
Meanwhile, 36 senators accuse Poli of giving 'false testimony' about the possibility of a strike during his 1980 appearance before Congress, and warn union will get no support from Congress if it strikes.
June 20 -- Talks continue. Two Democratic congressmen ask investigation of alleged campaign deal Ronald Reagan made to win union's endorsement. Union document submitted to Congress says Reagan agreed to fire former FAA Administrator Bond and increase controllers' salaries in return for endorsemant.
June 21 -- Talks continue past strike deadline; strike vote begins.
June 22 -- Tentative agreement reached. Airline traffic operates normally.
June 23 -- Many controllers denounce contract, say they will reject it.
June 25 -- Lewis warns controllers they 'cannot expect anything additional' if they reject tentative agreement.
July 2 -- Union's executive committee, meeting in Chicago, unanimously recommends rejection.
July 29 -- Union members overwhelmingly reject tentative pact, voting against it 95.3 percent to 4.7 percent.
July 31 -- Union sets Aug. 3 strike deadline if new contract is not reached. Lewis and Poli meet briefly but positions are descibed as 'light years apart' by mediator Moffett.
Aug. 1 -- Two sides meet for less than 30 minutes, agree to resume negotiations next day.
Aug. 2 -- Talks continue past midnight deadline, then abruptly break off.
Aug. 3 -- Controllers strike at 7 a.m. local time; federal judge issues temporary restraining order against walkout; President Reagan warns strikers they face dismissal.
