Interview with Louise Huffman, June 15, 1987

Interview Summary

Huffman discusses working as a nurses' aide in United Methodist Hospital in Pikeville (Ky). She describes her duties in both the new and the old hospital. Huffman recalls discussing a union while working in the old hospital and as the patient load increased, the nurses' aides grew more and more overwhelmed. Huffman describes tensions with the nursing staff as many of them would not help the nurses' aides. She recalls the beginning of unionization in the new hospital; Huffman signed a union card and encouraged others to sign as well. Huffman shares details of the first day of the strike, standing out on the picket line, and other union activities. Once the picket line was taken down, Huffman reapplied to work in United Methodist Hospital but never returned to work there. Huffman describes balancing a strike with managing a household and shares that her children would often join her on the picket lines.

Interview Keyword

United Methodist Hospital Hospital operations Boycotts Working conditions Strikebreakers Pikeville Methodist Hospital

Interview LC Subject

Women in the labor movement Nurses' aides Occupations Work environment Strikes and lockouts--Kentucky Medical care--Appalachian Region Salaries

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.