National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. Series 6, Subseries 5. Harry Van Arsdale interview, 1977.

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National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. Series 6, Subseries 5. Harry Van Arsdale interview, 1977.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/64091718

Harry Van Arsdale interview discusses unionization of hospital and drug trade employees; 1199 organizing campaigns; hospital and other strikes; legislation protecting the collective bargaining rights of hospital employees; the New York City labor movement; the political education of union members; public opinion regarding labor unions; and relations between 1199 and the civil rights movement, among other topics. The interview includes discussion of services of labor organizations to members; the union's role in developing communication between members; membership participation in union functions; the public image of the American labor movement and corruption among labor leaders. Also discussed are problems in organizing hospital workers without the protection of collective bargaining legislation; 1199's attempts to educate hospital workers and raise their collective consciousness; the economic and social composition of hospital boards; New York City Central Labor Council (NYCCLC) support of 1199's campaign to organize hospital workers in New York State; NYCCLC attempts to organize unorganized workers in New York City; strikes and layoffs in pharmaceutical laboratories (1977); the composition of the New York City labor movement; and organizing campaigns of the United Farmworkers, the campaign at Farah Slacks, and organizing activities of John L. Lewis, Jimmy Hoffa and New York City taxi drivers. The role of Victor Riesenfeld (Montefiore Hospital director) in avoidance of strikes is reviewed as are negotiations between Van Arsdale and hospital board members who refused to negotiate with 1199; Leon Davis' background in organizing drugstores and 1199's accomplishments in extending membership to blue collar and minority drug store workers is also commented on by Van Arsdale. Exposure of UN delegates to hospital workers on picket lines and its effect on the image of the American labor movement is discussed as are pre-union hospital working conditions and the position of hospital boards of trustees on improving working conditions and their opposition to unionization. A. Philip Randolph's work in the labor movement and civil rights is discussed as are Adam Clayton Powell's efforts to promote minimum wage legislation. Other topics include the role of philanthropists in hospital administration; the effects of publicity on hospitals' actions to improve working conditions; Nelson Rockefeller's policy on justice and minimum wage legislation; the attitudes of the wealthy in New York State toward public education for working class children; Robert Wagner Jr.'s role in settlement of hospital strikes and the influence of his father (Senator Robert Wagner) and Al Smith on his politics; collective bargaining legislation for hospital workers and the issue of compulsory arbitration without the right to strike; changing social attitudes toward unionization for hospital workers; the social effects of unions on workers and their families and communities; unions' effects on worker productivity; NYCCLC's position on hospital strikes; the role of the media in informing the public of strike avoidance; Alan Horvath's stand on the Davies Committee report; hospital workers' attitudes towards patient care; the effort to raise workers' consciousness through union organizing; reforms of union recognition election procedures; and the exploitation of workers who are denied collective bargaining rights and protective legislation.

1 transcript (42 p.)

Cornell University Library

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7911140

Cornell University Library

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