Tragedy in the Skies--Crash of Flight 1771 Kills 43 People
The recent PSA air tragedy involving the deaths of 43 innocent people is the most compelling evidence to date of the tragic consequences of this country’s failure to assure legislative protection against unjust dismissals.
While the circumstances surrounding the firing of the man apparently responsible for the crash are not completely clear, it is known that he had been a long-term employee of over 18 years, and that he was “hell bent” to obtain revenge for being fired.
Regardless of whether this man deserved to lose his job, the fact is that almost certainly this terrible event would not have occurred had there been some statutory protection against this type of abrupt dismissal.
As an attorney who has represented a large number of wrongfully terminated employees, I can attest to the very severe human consequences that invariably accompany the sudden discharge of personnel who generally expect “good faith and fair dealing” on the part of their employers.
The fact is that the United States is the only major industrial nation without statutory protection against unjust dismissals.
WILLIAM M. CROSBY
Irvine
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