Interview with Curtis Wallace and Lola Wallace, June 11, 1987

Partial Transcript: Lola?

Segment Synopsis: Lola Wallace describes her job as a nurse's aid at the Pikeville Methodist Hospital.

Keywords: Friends; Healthcare; Licensed practical nurses (LPNs); Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Registered nurses (RNs); Salary

Subjects: Education; Injections; Learning; Medicine; Money; Narcotics; Nurses' aides; Pikeville (Ky.); Work

Partial Transcript: So, what were you doing at the hospital?

Segment Synopsis: Curtis Wallace describes the custodial duties that he had at the Pikeville Methodist Hospital.

Keywords: Non-union hospitals; Overnight shifts; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Schools; Stokers; Union hospitals

Subjects: Boilers; Children; Cleaning; Coal; Gas; Janitors; Maintenance; Pikeville (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Well, how did, how did you like it compared to working on the hill?

Segment Synopsis: Curtis and Lola Wallace compare the old Pikeville Methodist to the new hospital. Additionally, the couple talk of unions and the changes to the unions following the move to the new hospital.

Keywords: Changes; Different; Foreman; Friends; Healthcare; Healthcare unions; Picket lines; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Quitting; Strikes; Union cards; Union contracts; Unions

Subjects: Employees; Money; Pikeville (Ky.); Telephone; Work

Partial Transcript: So, what were the issues then from your departments that you were raising in the strike?

Segment Synopsis: Lola Wallace explains the main reasons why the nurse's aides decided to go on strike.

Keywords: Breaks; Graveyard shifts; Licensed practical nurses (LPNs); Licenses; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Registered nurses (RNs); Salary; Signatures; Union cards; Unsupportive

Subjects: Medication; Money; Nurses' aides; Pikeville (Ky.); Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky; Work

Partial Transcript: So, what was it like leading up into the strike?

Segment Synopsis: Curtis and Lola Wallace illustrate the events leading up to the strike.

Keywords: Excited; Guards; Picket lines; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Scary; Shifts; Union cards; Union halls

Subjects: Fathers; Pikeville (Ky.); Prestonsburg (Ky.); Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky; Stroke; Vacation; Work

Partial Transcript: Did you have a lot of people crossing the picket line when you were there?

Segment Synopsis: Curtis and Lola Wallace reflect upon the frequency of people crossing the picket line.

Keywords: Picket lines; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Scabs; Strikebreakers

Subjects: Meetings; Picketing; Pike County (Ky.); Pikeville (Ky.); Sick; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky; Surprise; Talking; United Mine Workers of America

Partial Transcript: What do you think Arnold Miller could have done?

Segment Synopsis: Curtis and Lola Wallace share their initial expectations of the miner's unions in supporting the Pikeville Methodist Hospital strike. Additionally, the couple recall the violent nature of the strike (at the beginning of the strike).

Keywords: Decoys; Donations; Flyers; Gunshots; Picket lines; Picnic tables; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Roadblocks; Shift changes; State police; Union hospitals; Unions; Worried

Subjects: Coal miners; Cold; Dynamite; Home; Men; Money; Pikeville (Ky.); Prestonsburg (Ky.); South Williamson (Ky.); Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky; Talking; United Mine Workers of America; Violence

Partial Transcript: I remember that, but I can't remember--

Segment Synopsis: Curtis and Lola Wallace detail the beginning of the strike and the circumstances that caused the strike.

Keywords: Broken noses; Cars; Courts; Mine signs; Parking; Picket lines; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Shift changes; Telephone calls; Union offices; Unions; Walkout

Subjects: People; Pikeville (Ky.); Sons; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky; Time; Violence; Work

Partial Transcript: So, what all went on that night?

Segment Synopsis: Curtis and Lola Wallace illustrate what the first night of the strike was like.

Keywords: Advice; Meeting people; Organizers; Organizing; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Quilts; Schedules; Weekends; Yelling

Subjects: Children; Coal miners; Coffee; Cold; Crowds; Injunction; Meetings; People; Pikeville (Ky.); Sister; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky; Threats; Weather

Partial Transcript: What do you remember about the (??) the union meetings? Did you go to any meetings?

Segment Synopsis: Curtis and Lola Wallace talk of the role that the Methodist Church and United Mine Workers played in the strike.

Keywords: Pikeville Methodist Hospital; United Mine Workers of America (UMWA)

Subjects: Coal miners; Methodist Church; Pikeville (Ky.); Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky; United Mine Workers of America

Partial Transcript: What would have worked would be--would have been the miners and the big unions.

Segment Synopsis: Lola Wallace gives her opinion on why the strike was unsuccessful, and suggests what strategies could have worked in achieving the strikers' demands.

Keywords: Hospital unions; Licensed practical nurses (LPNs); Licenses; Mining unions; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Registered nurses (RNs); Support

Subjects: Nurses' aides; Pikeville (Ky.); Prestonsburg (Ky.); Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Well, you were a picket captain, Curt.

Segment Synopsis: Curtis Wallace discusses his experience out on the picket line.

Keywords: Picket lines; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Shifts; Workers

Subjects: Picketing; Pikeville (Ky.); Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky; Women

Partial Transcript: Well, how did people to react to you being on strike, personally?

Segment Synopsis: Curtis and Lola Wallace detail the reactions of their friends and family to their participation in the strike.

Keywords: Picket lines; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Supportive; Union man

Subjects: Death; Father; Friend; Money; Picket line; Pikeville (Ky.); Sisters; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: And you said the kids came on the picket line too?

Segment Synopsis: Lola Wallace articulates her most vivid memories of the picket line, including the participation of her children on the picket line.

Keywords: Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Uncomfortable; Visiting

Subjects: Children; Hazard (Ky.); Picketing; Pikeville (Ky.); Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky; Talking; Travel

Partial Transcript: When did you go back?

Segment Synopsis: Lola Wallace details what it was like to return to work after the strike. Curtis Wallace explains why he decided not to return to his job after the strike.

Keywords: Changing shifts; Co-workers; Laid-off; Layoffs; Nice; Night shifts; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Positive; Quitting; Shifts

Subjects: Janitors; Maintenance; Nurse's aides; Pikeville (Ky.); Sacrifice; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Curt, you said yesterday you've never been back in?

Segment Synopsis: Curtis Wallace discusses his decision to find other work during the strike. Wallace also lists the various jobs that he has had since his employment at Pikeville Methodist Hospital.

Keywords: Back pay; East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Inc.; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Power trucks, Industrial; Weekends

Subjects: Housekeeping; Picketing; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky; Strip mining; Work

Partial Transcript: When you look back at the strike, Lola, would you say you played a very active role in it?

Segment Synopsis: Curtis and Lola Wallace consider the role they played in the strike.

Keywords: Active; Consequences; Daughter-in-law; Picket line; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Strike

Subjects: Injunctions; Lumber; Picketing; Pikeville (Ky.); Prestonsburg (Ky.); United Mine Workers of America

Partial Transcript: Did you all know Lonnie Daniels very well during the strike?

Segment Synopsis: Curtis and Lola Wallace briefly talk of Lonnie Daniels. The couple then share their experiences with unions prior to the Pikeville Methodist Hospital strike.

Keywords: Half-brothers; Lonnie Daniels; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Prestonsburg strike; Satisfied; Union mine; Unions; Unsupportive

Subjects: Brother; Carpentry; Family reunions; Father; Michigan; Pikeville (Ky.); Prestonsburg (Ky.); Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky; United Mine Workers of America

Partial Transcript: Well, I'm asking everybody, um, how they managed during the strike so I can get an idea of...

Segment Synopsis: Curtis and Lola Wallace describe the dynamics of their household during the strike.

Keywords: Heart attacks; Neglected; Pikeville Methodist Hospital

Subjects: Children; Lexington (Ky.); Pikeville (Ky.); Rent; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Okay, well, how did you get your work done with all that's going on?

Segment Synopsis: Lola Wallace illustrates how she participated in the strike and completed her household chores at the same time.

Keywords: Bills; Care; Finances; Help; Nashville (Tenn.); Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Schools

Subjects: Chicago (Ill.); Children; Cleaning; Clothing; Daughters; Fathers; Food; Pikeville (Ky.); Sisters; Sons; Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Well, I wanna get from everybody also about their background.

Segment Synopsis: Curtis and Lola Wallace provide information about their backgrounds.

Keywords: Assembly-lines; Bush Creek (Ky.); Cut-off; Ford plant; Hurley (Va.); Husbands

Subjects: Carpentry; Children; Coal miners; Death; Elkhorn City (Ky.); Fathers; High school; Marriage; Michigan; Mothers; Pikeville (Ky.); Sisters; Sons; Virginia

Partial Transcript: Well, now, out of all these places, wh, where have you liked it the best?

Segment Synopsis: Lola Wallace reveals her favorite place she has lived in so far. The Wallaces then talk of their expectations of their future at the outset of the strike.

Keywords: Apartments; Future; Leaving; Licensed practical nurses; Moving; Picket lines; Pikeville Methodist Hospital; Registered nurses; Support

Subjects: Children; Home; Life; Michigan; Picketing; Pikeville (Ky.); Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Is there anything else from it that you...

Segment Synopsis: Curtis Wallace provides an overview of his work history.

Keywords: Hard work; Healthcare; Heavy lifting; Hospitals; Illness; Nursing homes; Pikeville Methodist Hospital

Subjects: David (Ky.); Employment--Kentucky; People; Pikeville (Ky.); Prestonsburg (Ky.)