Interview with Judy Maynard Bevins, July 1, 1987

Interview Summary

Bevins recalls working as a nurses' aide in Pikeville Methodist Hospital. She describes her duties and how her occupation has changed since the strike occurred. Bevins recalls the secretive labor union organizing efforts inside the hospital before the strike began. She describes the first night of the strike as chaotic but exciting. The strike on Pikeville Methodist Hospital failed in its goal to bring a labor union into the hospital but Bevins contends that she would do it again. Bevins also describes working in Mountain Manor nursing home and recalls her work there as being depressing because the patients never got better. Bevins discusses the effects of the strike and the lessons that she learned while standing on the picket line.

Interview Keyword

Women political activists Picketing Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky Pikeville (Ky.) Occupations Labor unions--Organizing Work environment Salaries Strikebreakers Labor injunctions Communications Workers of America (CWA) Nurses' aides Families Medical care--Appalachian Region Medicine Labor union meetings Job security Children Practical nurses Religion Education United Mine Workers of America (UMWA)

Interview LC Subject

Women in the labor movement Pikeville Methodist Hospital Hospital operations Picket lines Hospital security Patients

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.