Interview with Phyllis Cummins, June 2, 1987

Partial Transcript: Phyllis, say your name so I can see if your microphone is working.

Segment Synopsis: Cummins talks about her duties as an aide starting in 1971 that expanded beyond the typical duties of a nurse aide. She also discusses the staffing of her floor and the nursery including Filipino workers. Cummins talks about how she got her job at the hospital.

Keywords: Aides; Filipinos; Healthcare; Licensed practical nurses (LPNs); Night shifts; Nurse aides; Nurseries; Obstetrics (OB); Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Registered nurses (RNs); Staffing

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

Partial Transcript: Well now, before the strike started, what do you remember that it was like at the hospital? Was there a lot of talk about organizing?

Segment Synopsis: Cummins discusses her status as an outsider until she joined the unionization effort in the hospital. She also talks about the opposition within the hospital to the strike. Cummins discusses her previous experience working as an aide for the Navy.

Keywords: Aides; Hazel Ratliff; Licensed practical nurses (LPNs); Navy; Nurse aides; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Strikes; Training; Union cards; Unionization

Subjects: Collective labor agreements; Communications Workers of America.; Hospital and community.; Medical care--Kentucky; Occupations.; Picketing.

Partial Transcript: So, you listed some of your specific problems. What do you, what do you think were some of the overall problems at the hospital that brought the strike on?

Segment Synopsis: Cummins discusses the broader issues, like pensions, that precipitated the strike. She talks about the first day of the strike and her duties. She also talks about her expectations and feelings about the strike.

Keywords: Communications Workers of America (CWA); Organizing; Pensions; Picket lines; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Staff

Subjects: Collective labor agreements; Hospital and community.; Hospitals--Employees--Salaries, etc.; Occupations.; Picketing.; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Well, so here you are, kinda new in town and you find yourself on strike and you didn't know anybody much that worked there.

Segment Synopsis: Cummins discusses making friends and the other means of passing the time while picketing. Cummins talks about the union's expectations for well-behaved strikers. She also talks about how she had to cross the picket line for a medical emergency and to socialize.

Keywords: Colleagues; Communications Workers of America (CWA); Picket lines; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Unionization; Unions

Subjects: Communications Workers of America.; Labor unions--Strike benefits; Medical care--Kentucky; Picketing.; Strikebreakers; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Well what is--what was the first thing you did?

Segment Synopsis: Cummins talks about attending the union hall, talking with board members, and traveling. She discusses traveling with other strike breakers to garner support for their cause among Methodists and other hospitals.

Keywords: Board members; Colleagues; Communications Workers of America (CWA); Methodists; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Roger Mead; Travels; Unionization; Unions

Subjects: Communications Workers of America.; Labor unions--Strike benefits; Medical care--Kentucky; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky; United Methodist Church

Partial Transcript: Well, how'd you feel Phyllis when some people started going back to work?

Segment Synopsis: Cummins talks about the strike benefits from CWA as well as the state of her family during the strike. Cummins discusses how her family was largely unaffected.

Keywords: Communications Workers of America (CWA); Kids; Picket lines; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Spouses; Unionization; Unions; Vouchers

Subjects: Children; Communications Workers of America.; Families.; Labor unions--Strike benefits; Medical care--Kentucky; Picketing.; Strikebreakers; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So it didn't--your being out and being so well-known and, uh--(laughs)--

Segment Synopsis: Cummins discusses returning to the hospital for a procedure, but choosing not to return to work there. She talks about her feelings about some of the highest ranking employees. She also talks about finally receiving backpay and her notoriety as a striker.

Keywords: Back pay; Backpay; Benefits; Communications Workers of America (CWA); Grievances; Organizing; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Staff; Unions

Subjects: Communication Workers of America.; Families.; Hospital and community.; Hospital care--United States.; Medical care--Kentucky; Occupations.

Partial Transcript: Oh, yeah. You were telling me the other day about being in the--working at Kroger's--

Segment Synopsis: Cummins talks about her career both before and after working for the Pikeville Methodist Hospital. She also talks about her origins and meeting her husband. She discusses her family being pro-union.

Keywords: Electricians; Hotels; Households; Jobs; Krogers; Maintenance; Marriages; Navy; Phone companies; Siblings; Unions

Subjects: Childhood; Children; Education--Kentucky; Families.; Occupations.

Partial Transcript: So, let's see, what am I forgetting?

Segment Synopsis: Cummins discusses her thoughts about the strike, including critiques of the union's strategy. Cummins talks about how she believes the hospital will never unionize.

Keywords: Communications Workers of America (CWA); Methodists; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Protests; Unionization; Unions; United Mine Workers of America (UMWA)

Subjects: Communications Workers of America.; Hospital and community.; Occupations.; Picketing.; Strikebreakers; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky; United Methodist Church; United Mine Workers of America