Interview with Luna Bevins, June 13, 1987

Partial Transcript: Think back to the time before you were on strike, now tell me what job you had the hospital when you came out?

Segment Synopsis: Bevins discusses her role as a housekeeper at the hospital, including the duties and her complaints.

Keywords: Cleaning; Duties; Grievances; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Wages; Working conditions

Subjects: Hospital and community.; Hospital care--United States.; Housekeepers.; Medical care--Kentucky; Nursing.; Occupations.; Salaries

Partial Transcript: Well, tell me what--how it was that union started getting talked about.

Segment Synopsis: Bevins talks about the initial efforts for the union, like organizing and the strike. She also discusses the physical and social conditions of picketing.

Keywords: Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Protests; Strikes; Terminations; Union cards; Unions

Subjects: Collective labor agreements; Hospital and community.; Medical care--Kentucky; Occupations.; Picketing.; Salaries; Strikes and lockouts

Partial Transcript: Didn't you make some trips?

Segment Synopsis: Bevins discusses vising other cities with other strikers to garner support for their effort as well as learn new tactics for their strike. Bevins talks about how they focused on Methodist groups and the CWA.

Keywords: Communications Workers of America (CWA); Conferences; Informational pickets; Methodists; Organizing; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Staff; Travel

Subjects: Collective labor agreements; Communications Workers of America.; Hospital and community.; Medical care--Kentucky; Methodist Church; Picketing.; Women political activists

Partial Transcript: What else did you do in--around town?

Segment Synopsis: Bevins discusses a demonstration at the hospital in which the strikers marched to the hospital's doors, ultimately leading to the arrest of some of the protesters. Bevins also talks about the support showed by the community, and especially the absence of the UMWA's backing.

Keywords: Arrests; Colleagues; Communications Workers of America (CWA); Demonstrations; Picket lines; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Protests; Unionization; Unions; United Mine Workers of America (UMWA); Violence

Subjects: Collective labor agreements; Hospital and community.; Medical care--Kentucky; Picketing.; Strikes and lockouts; United States--Trials, litigation, etc.; Women political activists

Partial Transcript: Well, what about the rallies? Did you, uh--you had the one at John's Creek you were talking about.

Segment Synopsis: Bevins talks about her feelings about the protest and her choice not to return to the hospital after the hearings were completed. She also discusses attending those hearings and other means of protesting the hospital, like boycotts.

Keywords: Boycotts; Communications Workers of America (CWA); Hearings; Housekeeping; Organizing; Picket lines; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Road blocks; Staff; Unions

Subjects: Communications Workers of America.; Medical care--Kentucky; Occupations.; Picketing.; Strikebreakers; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky; United States--Trials, litigation, etc.

Partial Transcript: When you were a little girl, did you ever think you were going to get involved in something like this?

Segment Synopsis: Bevins talks about her jobs outside the hospital, including her current role in the coal industry.

Keywords: Board of education; Households; Injuries; Jobs; Marriages; Sheriff's offices; Widows

Subjects: Children; Coal--Kentucky.; Education--Kentucky; Families.; Occupations.; Salaries; Transportation--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: When you were at the hospital, who was your boss?

Segment Synopsis: Bevins discusses her boss' role as a liaison of the hospital's displeasure with unionization efforts. She also talks about her views on unions and family, including what her household looked like during the strike.

Keywords: Bosses; Households; Norma Charles; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Terminations; Unionization; Unions; Workplaces

Subjects: Communications Workers of America.; Families.; Hospital and community.; Labor unions--Strike benefits; Occupations.; Picketing.; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Well, um, I'm also asking people kinda li--a little about their biography and who they are.

Segment Synopsis: Bevins discusses her personal life including her childhood, marriage, and children.

Keywords: Childhood; Farms; Households; Jonah Bevin; Kids; Marriages; Siblings

Subjects: Agriculture.; Children; Education--Kentucky; Families.; Occupations.; Picketing

Partial Transcript: Luna, when you think, here was this big strike and it was one of the biggest things that ever happened to you, right? What do you think you learned from it?

Segment Synopsis: Bevins discusses her thoughts about the strike, including the friendships she made and the importance of protesting.

Keywords: Communications Workers of America (CWA); Friendships; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Protests; Unionization; Unions

Subjects: Communications Workers of America.; Families.; Hospital and community.; Occupations.; Picketing.; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky