News In Brief

Appeals from air controllers fired by Reagan are grounded

Appeals by 34 former air traffic controllers fired after the 1981 walkout by some 13,000 controllers were rejected by the Supreme Court yesterday. The court, without comment, let stand rulings that President Reagan did not exceed his authority by ordering the firings. Last May, a federal appeals court here upheld the controllers' dismissals.

The Professional Air Traffic Controllers union staged the walkout in August 1981, defying a law that bans strikes by public employees. Mr. Reagan gave the controllers 48 hours to return, then fired about 11,500 of those who did not.