Arthur B. Shostak Collection:

A Guide

Biographical Note

Arthur B. Shostak was born May 11, 1937 in Brooklyn, New York. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University in 1958 and a Ph.D. in Industrial Sociology at Princeton University in 1961. Dr. Shostak is a Professor of Sociology at Drexel University where he teaches courses in industrial sociology, management and technology, futuristic and social implications of twentieth century technology. He also teaches as an adjunct sociologist at the AFL-CIO George Meany Center for Labor Studies, Silver Spring, Maryland. Dr. Shostak is co-editor of Blue-Collar World, (Prentice Hall, 1965); New Perspectives on Poverty, (Prentice Hall, 1968); Privilege in America: An End to Inequality?, (Prentice Hall, 1970).

In addition, he is author of Blue-Collar Life, (Random House, 1969) and Blue-Collar Stress, (Addison-Wesley, 1980). He has contributed many chapters to volumes on working-class issues. He is a consultant on futuristics to the AFL-CIO Council of Union Secretary-Treasurers and has taught for District 65 RWDU-AFL-CIO; The Steelworkers Union (Lindenhall Education Center); The Postal Workers Union; and others.

His book, The Air Controllers' Controversy-Lessons from the PATCO Strike, (Human Services Press, 1986), which he co-authored with David Skocik, an air traffic controller at New York's La Guardia airport from 1977 to 1981 and a former public relations officer for PATCO (Professional Air Traffic Controllers organization), was based largely on the material in this collection.

Sources:

• Shostak, Arthur. The Air Controllers' Controversy-Lessons from the PATCO Strike. New York: Human Services Press, 1986.
• May, Hal, ed., Contemporary Authors. Vol. 108. Michigan: Gale Research Company, 1983.

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Scope and Contents

The collection, in ten legal-size document boxes, is composed of research materials collected by Dr. Arthur B Shostak, much of which was used in writing his book, The Air Controllers' Controversy-Lessons from the PATCO Strike. Included are personal notes and correspondence, newspaper and magazine articles, various union and government publications, and various types of research material dating from 1974-1992.

The collection is organized into four series. The first series is the Personal Notes and Correspondence files, arranged chronologically, and consist of hand-written notes made by Dr. Shostak while conducting research for his book, as well as letters and notes received from various universities, labor unions, and individuals. This material covers the years 1980-1991. The second series is the Newspaper and Magazine Articles Files, also arranged chronologically, and consists of material relating to air traffic control issues, with emphasis on The Professional Air Traffic Controller's Organization (PATCO) strike of 1981 and the subsequent after effects to the commercial aviation industry. The newspaper clippings are taken from various papers from across the country and the magazine articles are taken from both industrial/trade magazines as well as popular magazines such as Time. The material covers the years 1970-1991, the bulk being 1981-1989. The majority of this material was used in preparation of the book.

The third series is the Publications File, arrannged by the particular union or government entity. In the union publications are PATCO (Professional Air Traffic Controller's Organization); NATCA (National Air Traffic Controller's Association); USATCO (United States Air Traffic Controller's Organization); MEBA (Marine Engineer's Beneficial Association), along with the AFL-CIO. All of this material relates to labor issues. In the government publications are the GAO (United States General Accounting Office); DOT (United States Department of Transportation); FAA (Federal Aviation Administration); and the Committee on Public Works and Transportation, House of Representatives. This material relates to air traffic control issues, and covers the years 1970-1992. The last series is the Research Material Files, which were arranged alphabetically; by author, title or location. This series consists of interviews, reports, research papers, book excerpts, case studies and a roster of air traffic controllers. The interviews involved former air traffic controllers and date from spring of 1984 to October of 1985. The reports relate to the then current state of the air traffic control industry. The research papers were produced by Master's candidates, Ph.D.s' and other researchers and relate to the subject of air traffic control as well as numerous aspects of commercial aviation. The book excerpts are from Dr. Shostak's book, The Air Controllers' Controversy-Lessons from the PATCO Strike, and another book, PATCO's Legacy, also by Dr. Shostak.

In addition, there is an article published in The University of Chicago Law Review entitled, Public Employee Strikes, Executive Discretion, and the Air Traffic Controllers, BY Bernard D. Meltzer and Cass R. Sumstein. The case studies contain information on labor unions as well as numerous clinical studies of air traffic controllers. The final item is a computer print-out of a roster of air traffic controllers.

The Arthur B. Shostak Collection will be of particular benefit to those involved in researching labor history. The union publications, particularly those of PATCO and NATCA, are quite extensive and may provide the researcher with valuable insight into union objectives under the Reagan Administration and help to show a change in policies and practices. The government publications will also prove valuable as they will provide a balance to the union material and show what paths these agencies took in response to union behavior.

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Restrictions

Access

Open for research.

Literary Rights Statement

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards.

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Separated Material

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Administrative Information

Citation

Arthur B. Shostak Collection, AR374, Box Number, Folder Number, The University of Texas at Arlington Library Special Collections.

Acquisition

The Arthur B. Shostak Collection was a gift to The University of Texas at Arlington. Jane Boley of Special Collections negotiated the receipt of this collection. The university received this material April 7, 1993.

Processing Information

Finding aid prepared by John C. Konzal, May 1995.

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Note to the Researcher

A special note regarding the air traffic controller roster contained in series four. Whenever possible, an attempt was made to place it in alphabetical order. However, since the roster was not printed in perfect alphabetical order, it was not always possible to do so. Also concerning the rest of the material in series four. Arrangement was by author, title, or location; in the case of multiple authors, the first author's last name was used. The interviews were arranged in alphabetical order by the name of the subject. When the interview did not list the subject's name, the location of the interview was used (ie, New Mexico, New England, etc.).

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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