Interview with Millard Wayne Perry and Daisy Couch Perry, October 24, 1986

Partial Transcript: Wayne, say something so I can see how your microphone's doing.

Segment Synopsis: Wayne Perry describes his initial work at the Brookside Mine prior to the strike. The various jobs that Perry had before and after the strike are also discussed.

Keywords: Accidents; Brookside Mine; Brookside strike; Contracts; Dry Lake Coal Company; Eastover Mining Company; Fired; Foreman; Harlan Fuel Company; Jericho Mining Company; Non-union mines; Saw mills; Unions

Subjects: Blacklisting, Labor; Coal miners--Kentucky; Coal mines and mining--Kentucky; Employment--Kentucky; Fingers; Harlan County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Um, what do you remember the most about being on strike?

Segment Synopsis: Wayne Perry reflects upon his memories of the strike, including the grave consequences of the strike for his mining career.

Keywords: Bosses; Brookside Mine; Brookside strike; Dry Lake Mining Company; Eastover Mining Company; Jails; Lawsuits; Picket lines; Trouble

Subjects: Blacklisting, Labor; Coal Miners' Strike, Harlan County, Ky., 1973.; Coal miners--Kentucky; Coal miners--Labor unions--Organizing; Coal miners--Labor unions.; Coal mines and mining--Kentucky; Collective bargaining--Coal mining industry; Cost; Harlan County (Ky.); Interest; Law enforcement.; Money; Picketing.; Police; Protest and social movements; Protest movements.; Regret; Strategy; Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky; Strikes and lockouts--Miners; United Mine Workers of America

Partial Transcript: Well, do you think anything good came out of the strike?

Segment Synopsis: Wayne Perry articulates the benefits of the strike for himself and other miners in general. Additionally, the reactions of the police and the family of Daisy Perry to the strike are shared.

Keywords: Brookside mine; Brookside strike; Disguises; Foreman; Guns; Jericho Mining Company; Non-union mines; Picket line; Security; Support

Subjects: Arrest; Children; Coal Miners' Strike, Harlan County, Ky., 1973.; Coal miners' spouses; Coal miners--Kentucky; Coal miners--Labor unions--Organizing; Coal miners--Labor unions.; Coal mines and mining--Kentucky; Collective bargaining--Coal mining industry; Communities.; Families.; Father; Fire; Grandfather; Harlan County (Ky.); Insurance; Law enforcement.; Pensions; Picketing.; Police; Protest and social movements; Protest movements.; Retirement; Retirement--Planning; Sister; Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky; Strikes and lockouts--Miners; United Mine Workers of America; Violence; Women in the labor movement

Partial Transcript: Where were you born?

Segment Synopsis: Wayne Perry briefly talks of his early life. Perry also discusses how he became blacklisted, and how others who have been blacklisted got off the list.

Keywords: Ashland Gas Company; Brookside Mine; Brookside strike; Family; Jones Creek (Ky.); Salary

Subjects: Blacklisting, Labor; Coal Miners' Strike, Harlan County, Ky., 1973.; Coal miners--Kentucky; Coal miners--Labor unions--Organizing; Coal miners--Labor unions.; Coal mines and mining--Kentucky; Collective bargaining--Coal mining industry; Communities.; Early life; Families.; Harlan County (Ky.); Picketing.; Protest and social movements; Protest movements.; Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky; Strikes and lockouts--Miners; Truck driving; United Mine Workers of America

Partial Transcript: Daisy, let's see, why don't we start now by thinking back to before the strike.

Segment Synopsis: Daisy Perry recalls the beginning of the Brookside strike.

Keywords: Arrested; Brookside Mine; Brookside strike; Jails; Night shifts; Picket lines; Scared; Sister-in-law

Subjects: Coal Miners' Strike, Harlan County, Ky., 1973.; Coal miners--Kentucky; Coal miners--Labor unions--Organizing; Coal miners--Labor unions.; Coal mines and mining--Kentucky; Collective bargaining--Coal mining industry; Communities.; Cooking; Families.; Friend; Harlan County (Ky.); Law enforcement.; Picketing.; Police; Protest and social movements; Protest movements.; Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky; Strikes and lockouts--Miners

Partial Transcript: One of the questions I've had is how people managed, like, to keep their households together at the same time that--

Segment Synopsis: Daisy Couch explains how she managed her household throughout the strike.

Keywords: Brookside Mine; Brookside strike; Coal camps; House notice; Utilities

Subjects: Children; Coal; Coal Miners' Strike, Harlan County, Ky., 1973.; Coal miners--Kentucky; Coal miners--Labor unions--Organizing; Coal miners--Labor unions.; Coal mines and mining--Kentucky; Cold; Collective bargaining--Coal mining industry; Communities.; Families.; Food; Harlan County (Ky.); Heat; Neighbors; Picketing.; Protest and social movements; Protest movements.; Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky; Strikes and lockouts--Miners; Water

Partial Transcript: Well, when you got out and involved in this thing, did you have any idea what this strike was going to be like?

Segment Synopsis: Daisy Perry shares her expectations of the strike from the outset of the strike. Additionally, Perry discusses the reactions of her parents and husband to her involvement in the strike.

Keywords: Angry; Brookside Mine; Brookside strike; Coal miners; Expectations; Harlan march; Husbands; Insults; Pride; Support

Subjects: Coal Miners' Strike, Harlan County, Ky., 1973.; Coal miners--Kentucky; Coal miners--Labor unions--Organizing; Coal miners--Labor unions.; Coal mines and mining--Kentucky; Collective bargaining--Coal mining industry; Communities.; Families.; Father; Harlan County (Ky.); Mother; Picketing.; Protest and social movements; Protest movements.; Siblings; Stories; Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky; Strikes and lockouts--Miners; Women in the labor movement

Partial Transcript: What do you remember it was like being on the picket line?

Segment Synopsis: Daisy Perry details what it was like to be out on the picket line. Perry also explains the benefits of living in a coal camp. The organization of the picket line is also discussed.

Keywords: Brookside Mine; Brookside Women's Club; Brookside strike; Coal camps; Friends; Locations; Picket lines; Plans; Quiet; Roadblocks; Tired

Subjects: Boring; Children; Coal Miners' Strike, Harlan County, Ky., 1973.; Coal miners--Kentucky; Coal miners--Labor unions--Organizing; Coal miners--Labor unions.; Coal mines and mining--Kentucky; Collective bargaining--Coal mining industry; Communities.; Families.; Food; Grandchildren; Harlan County (Ky.); Jokes; Meetings; Money; Picketing.; Protest and social movements; Protest movements.; Songs; Stories; Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky; Strikes and lockouts--Miners; Talking

Partial Transcript: Daisy, when you think about it now, do you miss any of it?

Segment Synopsis: Daisy Perry talks of her experiences with the strike, including her arrest and her participation in roadblocks. Perry also discusses the blacklisting of her husband from coal mining jobs due to his involvement with the strike.

Keywords: Brookside strike; Hard times; Illegal; Picket lines; Police stations; Public inquiry; Roadblocks; State police

Subjects: Arrest; Blacklisting, Labor; Coal Miners' Strike, Harlan County, Ky., 1973.; Coal miners--Kentucky; Coal miners--Labor unions--Organizing; Coal miners--Labor unions.; Coal mines and mining--Kentucky; Collective bargaining--Coal mining industry; Communities.; Disguise; Families.; Grandchildren; Harlan County (Ky.); Law enforcement.; Meetings; Picketing.; Protest and social movements; Protest movements.; Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky; Strikes and lockouts--Miners; Wigs

Partial Transcript: You sit sometimes, and you get serious (??) now was it worth it?

Segment Synopsis: Daisy Perry shares the lessons she has learned from the strike. Perry then recalls the Brookside Women's Club meetings in which the wives of the miners planned out their strategy for their picket line demonstrations.

Keywords: Advice; Booster clubs; Brookside Women's Club; Brookside strike; Dangerous; Fun; Home; Picket lines

Subjects: Babysitting; Coal Miners' Strike, Harlan County, Ky., 1973.; Coal miners--Kentucky; Coal miners--Labor unions--Organizing; Coal miners--Labor unions.; Coal mines and mining--Kentucky; Collective bargaining--Coal mining industry; Communities.; Families.; Harlan County (Ky.); Meetings; Picketing.; Protest and social movements; Protest movements.; Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky; Strikes and lockouts--Miners; United Mine Workers of America; Women in the labor movement; Women political activists

Partial Transcript: Junior, when were you born?

Segment Synopsis: Daisy Perry describes her children and their experience with the strike.

Keywords: Brookside Mine; Brookside strike; Elementary schools; Houses; Namesakes; Salary

Subjects: Carpentry; Children; Coal Miners' Strike, Harlan County, Ky., 1973.; Coal miners--Kentucky; Coal miners--Labor unions--Organizing; Coal miners--Labor unions.; Coal mines and mining--Kentucky; Collective bargaining--Coal mining industry; Communities.; Daughter; Families.; Friend; Harlan County (Ky.); Ohio; Picketing.; Protest and social movements; Protest movements.; School principals; Sons; Stickers; Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky; Strikes and lockouts--Miners; United Mine Workers of America

Partial Transcript: What do you and Wayne do--like do to together?

Segment Synopsis: Daisy Perry details her favorite activities to do with her husband. Perry also describes her family, including her father's illness that occurred during the strike. A friend and neighbor of the Perrys briefly shares his opinion on unions.

Keywords: Brookside Mine; Brookside strike; Coal mines; Driving; Hospitals; Husbands; Illness; Injury; Jericho Mining Company; Neighbors; Unions

Subjects: Brother; Carpentry; Church; Coal Miners' Strike, Harlan County, Ky., 1973.; Coal miners--Kentucky; Coal miners--Labor unions--Organizing; Coal miners--Labor unions.; Coal mines and mining--Kentucky; Collective bargaining--Coal mining industry; Communities.; Families.; Father; Harlan County (Ky.); Lexington (Ky.); London (Ky.); McCreary County (Ky.); Mother; Picketing.; Protest and social movements; Protest movements.; Sister; Son; Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky; Strikes and lockouts--Miners; Travel; Whitesburg (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Where were you living when they were on strike?

Segment Synopsis: A neighbor and friend of the Perrys talks of his experience in the strike. Daisy Perry then illustrates what life was like for her family during the strike.

Keywords: Brookside Mine; Brookside strike; Compensation; Doctors; Electric bills; Hospital bills; Houses; Injury; Men's meetings; Moving; Neighbors; Saw mills; Stipends; Support; Union benefits

Subjects: Asthma; Blacklisting, Labor; Children; Coal Miners' Strike, Harlan County, Ky., 1973.; Coal miners--Kentucky; Coal miners--Labor unions--Organizing; Coal miners--Labor unions.; Coal mines and mining--Kentucky; Collective bargaining--Coal mining industry; Communities.; Experience; Families.; Friend; Furniture; Groceries; Harlan County (Ky.); Love; Marriage; Picketing.; Protest and social movements; Protest movements.; Rent; Son; Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky; Strikes and lockouts--Miners; Thanksgiving; Women in the labor movement

Partial Transcript: Well, how do you all kind of run your house?

Segment Synopsis: Daisy Perry describes how she ran her household throughout the strike. Additionally, Perry details some of the hardships her family experienced during the strike.

Keywords: Bills; Brookside Mine; Brookside strike; Doctors; Helping; Hospitals; Husbands; Illnesses; In-laws; Picket lines; Supportive; Together

Subjects: Asthma; Brothers; Church; Coal Miners' Strike, Harlan County, Ky., 1973.; Coal miners--Kentucky; Coal miners--Labor unions--Organizing; Coal miners--Labor unions.; Coal mines and mining--Kentucky; Collective bargaining--Coal mining industry; Communities.; Death; Discipline; Families.; Father; Grocery shopping; Harlan County (Ky.); Picketing.; Protest and social movements; Protest movements.; Son; Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky; Strikes and lockouts--Miners; Women in the labor movement

Partial Transcript: Well, Daisy let me ask you some more about, um, your background.

Segment Synopsis: Daisy Perry elaborates upon her background, including her early life and the health of her father.

Keywords: Black lung; Doctors; Heart conditions; Husbands; Illnesses; Louellen (Ky.); Middleton (Ky.); Welfare

Subjects: Childhood; Diabetes; Early life; Families.; Father; Georgia; Health; High school; Letcher County (Ky.); Marriage; Siblings; Sister; Social security; Tennessee

Partial Transcript: D'you want the kids in the mines?

Segment Synopsis: Daisy Perry considers what kind of future she wants for her children. Perry also briefly explains how she met her husband.

Keywords: Coal mining; Finances; Future; Husbands

Subjects: Children; Education; Families.; Grandchildren; Life; Mutual friend

Partial Transcript: And at one stretch, then, you had welfare.

Segment Synopsis: Daisy Perry discusses her financial situation during the strike. Perry then reveals her favorite place she has lived so far.

Keywords: Brookside Mine; Brookside strike; Cars; Coffee pots; Driving; Finances; Highway; Houses; Husbands; Isolated; Laundromats; Moving; Neighborhoods; Picket lines; Running water; Socializing; Together

Subjects: Children; Coal Miners' Strike, Harlan County, Ky., 1973.; Coal miners--Kentucky; Coal miners--Labor unions--Organizing; Coal miners--Labor unions.; Coal mines and mining--Kentucky; Collective bargaining--Coal mining industry; Communities.; Families.; Food stamps; Friends; Harlan County (Ky.); Picketing.; Protest and social movements; Protest movements.; Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky; Strikes and lockouts--Miners; Women in the labor movement; Work

Partial Transcript: Do you remember, when it was going on, thinking about your future and what you thought it was going to be like?

Segment Synopsis: Daisy Perry shares her expectations of the strike before it began. Perry also details her experience with a recent flood in Harlan County.

Keywords: Brookside Mine; Brookside strike; Cars; Different; Expectations; Flood; Future; Lessons; Picket line; Ruined; Stranded

Subjects: Coal Miners' Strike, Harlan County, Ky., 1973.; Coal miners--Kentucky; Coal miners--Labor unions--Organizing; Coal miners--Labor unions.; Coal mines and mining--Kentucky; Collective bargaining--Coal mining industry; Communities.; Families.; Harlan County (Ky.); Money; Mother; Picketing.; Protest and social movements; Protest movements.; Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky; Strikes and lockouts--Miners; Women in the labor movement

Partial Transcript: You said you were real close to Dorothy.

Segment Synopsis: Daisy Perry briefly reflects upon the close friends that she made through the strike. Perry recalls the expectations she had for the future as a young woman. The interviewee also characterizes the relationship between her children and their grandparents.

Keywords: Brookside Mine; Brookside strike; Expectations; Fighting; Friends; Future; Husbands; Jericho Mining Company; Nurses

Subjects: Coal Miners' Strike, Harlan County, Ky., 1973.; Coal miners--Kentucky; Coal miners--Labor unions--Organizing; Coal miners--Labor unions.; Coal mines and mining--Kentucky; Collective bargaining--Coal mining industry; Communities.; Cooking; Corbin (Ky.); Death; Families.; Grandparents; Marriage; Neighbors; Parents; Picketing.; Protest and social movements; Protest movements.; Sister; Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky; Strikes and lockouts--Miners; Whitesburg (Ky.); Women in the labor movement