Interview with Rebecca J. Maynard, May 22, 1987

Partial Transcript: Ree, say your name onto the tape for me.

Segment Synopsis: Maynard talks about how she got her job in the kitchen of Pikeville Methodist Hospital and the duties and working conditions of the job. She also discusses how her job and other logistics changed when two hospitals combined.

Keywords: Ann Davis; Anna Mae Fields; Carts; Cleaning; Faith's Dairy Bar; Gertrude Irvin; Kitchen; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Working conditions

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

Partial Transcript: Before the strike, what was going on then? Were you all talking union a lot or--how was that organizing going?

Segment Synopsis: Maynard talks about what led hospital workers to want a union, their organizing efforts, and the choice to align with the CWA. She also discusses the influence of other unions, especially United Mine Workers of America, on her and the strike.

Keywords: Anna Mae Fields; Communications Workers of America (CWA); Organizing; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; United Mine Workers of America (UMWA)

Subjects: Communications Workers of America.; Families.; Hospital and community.; Hospital care--United States.; Occupations.; Picketing.; Salaries

Partial Transcript: So, um, did you have a strike vote then?

Segment Synopsis: Maynard talks about how the firing of pro-union employees started the strike. She also discusses conditions of picketing, strikebreakers, and the role of religious figures and communities, especially Methodists. Maynard talks about the reactions of her family and friends to the strike as well as the intense, sometimes violent, reactions of hospital leadership.

Keywords: Communications Workers of America (CWA); Henry Stratton; Lee King; Methodists; Picket lines; Picketing; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Protests; Terminations; Unionization; Unions; Violence

Subjects: Communications Workers of America.; Hospital and community.; Occupations.; Picketing.; Salaries; Strikebreakers; Strikes and lockouts

Partial Transcript: What are all the different kinds of things you remember doing during the strike that were--to help win it?

Segment Synopsis: Maynard discusses the various ways she and others became involved with the strike, particularly traveling to advocate to Methodist churches. She also talks about the injunctions. Maynard talks about efforts by opponents to frame strikers for crimes.

Keywords: Bombs; Framing; Injunctions; Picnics; Pikeville Methodist Church; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Rallies; Roadblocks; Unions

Subjects: Hospital and community.; Labor unions--Strike benefits; Picketing.; United States--Trials, litigation, etc.; Women political activists

Partial Transcript: Were you--you weren't an officer then? Were any of the strikers officers of the local?

Segment Synopsis: Maynard and Mae discuss the role of the existing local union chapter and the larger union in the strike. They also talk about the union's resistance to going on strike. Maynard discusses the decision to pull the picket line and the poor working conditions upon returning to work.

Keywords: Anna Mae Fields; Back pay; Communications Workers of America (CWA); Gene Lane; Henry Stratton; Labor boards; Leadership; Picket lines; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Unions; Working conditions

Subjects: Communications Workers of America.; Hospital and community.; Picketing.; Strikes and lockouts; Women political activists

Partial Transcript: What do you remember the most about your times on the picket line?

Segment Synopsis: Maynard talks about the conditions of picketing and the relationships she created there. She also discusses the union's role and her final feelings about the strike overall.

Keywords: Arnold Mills; Colleagues; Communications Workers of America (CWA); Picket lines; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Unionization; Unions; United Mine Workers of America (UMWA); Working conditions

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

Partial Transcript: What'd you think of the news coverage you got?

Segment Synopsis: Maynard discusses her feelings about the strike today, including media representation and the community's role. She also discusses how the strike changed the hospital.

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

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

Partial Transcript: Well, that's a good way to get into this. Um, tell me about your history with unions. Tell me about your father and--

Segment Synopsis: Maynard talks about her family and their history with unions. She also talks about her education, career path, and marriage.

Keywords: Households; Marriages; Milford Maynard; Siblings; Unions; United Mine Workers of America (UMWA)

Subjects: Childhood; Education--Kentucky; Families.; Occupations.; Women political activists

Partial Transcript: At the time of the strike, where were you living?

Segment Synopsis: Maynard talks about her friends and family during and after the strike. She also discusses the benefits and occupations that supported the household.

Keywords: Benefits; Households; Parents; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Siblings; Unions

Subjects: Children; Families.; Labor unions--Strike benefits; Occupations.; Picketing.; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: What did the union say when they told you that it was time to stop the picket line? What was their explanation?

Segment Synopsis: Maynard talks about the value of unions and the last of her experiences with the CWA. She also discusses the conditions in the hospital without the union, including further efforts to unionize.

Keywords: Colleagues; Communications Workers of America (CWA); E.D. King; Picket lines; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Unionization; Unions; United Mine Workers of America (UMWA); Working conditions

Subjects: Communications Workers of America; Hospital and community.; Medical care--Kentucky; Occupations.; Salaries

Partial Transcript: Let me ask you about the time that, um, there were the arrests. Were you there at the hospital?

Segment Synopsis: Maynard discusses the more unique situations for strikers, including arrests and traveling. She talks about how nurses did not join the strikes. Maynard also talks about what her husband would have thought of her being a striker.

Keywords: Colleagues; Communications Workers of America (CWA); Marriages; Organizing; Picket lines; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Unionization; Unions; United Mine Workers of America (UMWA); Working conditions

Subjects: Communications Workers of America; Families.; Labor unions--Strike benefits; Picketing.; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky; United States--Trials, litigation, etc.