This collection consists of recorded interviews, written abstracts of the interviews, newsletters, strike bulletins, and other papers. The interviews focus on the problems at the Trust, the treatment of workers that led to the strike, the strike itself, retaliation by management after the strike, and how it eventually changed conditions. None of the fifteen women interviewed had ever been involved in a strike before.
Denise DeLong's interview is particularly informative since she was the de facto strike leader. As the union steward she was involved in the negotiation process, oversaw various strike committees, was involved in all aspects of the bargaining process, and was spokesperson for the bargaining team. Pam Born was in charge of the strike headquarters and a member of the publicity committee. Her interview provides information on the organization of the Trust. Paula Krueger grew up in World War II Germany and this background clearly influences her feelings about the strike. She made posters, picketed, and helped with fundraising. Kathy Munz was also on the bargaining team and picketed. She compares her previous work experience at Wisconsin Physicians Service and the conditions there with those at the Trust. Sandy Tordoff worked on the bargaining team drafting proposals and served on the newsletter committee. Her interview is particularly informative about conditions at the Trust after the strike. Patricia Bewick was a member of the bargaining team. Roxanne Blake walked the picket line and after the strike became a union steward. Sharon Cnare was a union steward before the strike and resigned over a dispute but nonetheless supported the strike. Lyn Laurion was on the liaison committee between the Trust and the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) which was responsible for coordinating planning and money. Sue Mayfield worked on the publicity committee, organizing committee, and bargaining team. Rose McDowell picketed, made phone calls, and did a small amount of publicity work. Patricia Schlueter picketed. Joy Tarpey was a member of the bargaining team and drafted proposals and was involved in the organizing committee. Rose Ann Yeadon was a picket captain and was responsible for dissuading people from crossing the picket line.
In addition to the taped interviews, other related material provides information on the strike. Included are abstracts of each interview (arranged alphabetically), newsletters written by several Trust women in the period before the strike, and strike bulletins. In 1980 the Project mailed out questionnaires in order to investigate interest in the oral history project. These were completed by 35 of the 53 women who participated in the strike and are included in the collection. Contract drafts, a chronological history of the relationship between the Trust management and the United Staff Union, and related letters and memos are found in the file of Judy Neumann (a lawyer from WEAC who provided support to the strikers). A folder of miscellaneous material contains news clippings, memos, a handbill, and strike song lyrics. The collection also contains photographs including five copy negatives (the originals were returned to Costello) of women on the picket line, including one of Jane Fonda with Mayfield, DeLong, Tordoff, and Tarpey.
