The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization or PATCO was a United States trade union that operated from 1968 until its decertification in 1981 following an illegal strike that was broken by the Reagan Administration. In the 1980 presidential election, PATCO (along with the Teamsters and the Air Line Pilots Association) refused to back President Jimmy Carter, instead endorsing Republican Party candidate Ronald Reagan. PATCO's refusal to endorse the Democratic Party stemmed in large part from poor labor relations with the FAA (the employer of PATCO members) under the Carter administration and Ronald Reagan's endorsement of the union and its struggle for better conditions during the 1980 election campaign. The union was actively fighting for better pay, shorter work weeks, earlier retirement options, and more up-to-date equipment.

PATCO worked in the years leading up to the strike to lobby for Congress to pass legislating for improved wages and working conditions in the field including lobbying for HR 3479 in 1979, and HR 1576 and S. 808 in 1981. Local PATCO members corresponded and met in person with Montanan members of Congress to gain support for these bills which would sustantially satisfy their demands. However, due to limiting policy in statute nothing could get passed.

Despite Reagan's apparent support, when barganing began for a new contract in 1981 the FAA held firm on its stance, refusing to grant all of the requests made by the union and other than a pay raise. Although illegal, the union began discussions around a potential strike. This carried on from March and into the summer. Finally on August 3, 1981 13,000 PATCO members struck. Almost immediately President Reagan sent out an ultimatum - return to work within 48 hours, or be fired - resulting in 10% of the members returning to work. There were 53 air traffic controllers in Montana represented by PATCO at that time: 17 in Billings, 10 in Helena, 8 in Missoula, and 18 in Great Falls and Malmstrom Air Force Base in Cascade County. 37 controllers defied orders and were fired, including 12 in Billings. Four other controllers and four supervisors kept working in Billings. Nationwide, Transportation Secretary Drew Lewis estimated 38 to 40% of the workforce was on the job. But this included non-union members and supervisors.

Although the government initially planned to cut flights severly to accomidate the reduced number of controllers, following the initial drop there was little reduction nationwide and across the state. This was mainly due to the contingency plan set into place by the US government, which relied on military air traffic controllers, non-union members, and those about to graduate from the air traffic controller school. The plan weakened the bargaining power of the strikers who not only faced unemployment, but potential criminal charges.

Those who were fired had a week to respond in writing or orally to appeal the decision to terminate them. Some controllers, including a number from Billings PATCO, appealed their firing to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), one of three organizations that had replaced the former Civil Service Commission and whose responsibility it was to hear appeals from federal employees regarding potential abuses by management.