Title: Maurice Better Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1937-1973

Creator:

• Better, Maurice

Call Number: Mss 901

Quantity: 2.2 c.f. (4 archives boxes, 1 card file box, and 1 flat box)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Documents, notes, and data collected by Maurice Better while investigating the collective bargaining process in preparation for writing his Ph.D. dissertation in Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Better specifically studied negotiations between the Gisholt Machine Company (Madison, Wis.) and Local 1404 of the United Steelworkers of America during 1968, a period that included a strike of thirteen weeks duration. Included is his background research which includes information about company-union relations dating back to 1937, economics of the steel industry, and economic conditions in the Madison area. The collection includes correspondence of both the company and the union, agreements, clippings, contract proposals, Local 1404's bylaws, financial data, data on the Gisholt workforce, and minutes and notes of meetings. Of particular interest are Better's extensive field notes collected during his first-hand observation of the bargaining process and his notes concerning the history of specific contract provisions.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00901

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The papers are essentially in the order in which Better organized them with material falling into two main series: Writing & General Research and 1968 Negotiations Research. The two series are similar in content, both containing documents collected from the company and the union as well as research notes compiled by Better. Most of the data is from the labor point of view. Management's side is represented also, but to a much lesser extent. The introduction to the dissertation (included with the papers) explains his methodology and motivation.

The material in the WRITING & GENERAL RESEARCH series comprises Better's research into the background leading up to the 1968 negotiations, primarily covering the period 1937 to 1967 with a small amount of data spanning 1901 to 1973. Also included is a copy of Better's dissertation and an earlier research paper concerning company-union relations from 1937 through 1953. The first part of the series is organized by topic; the second part of the series groups documents by year. Included is correspondence between the company and local union officials; correspondence between the local and higher union officials; clippings; contract proposals; agreements; miscellaneous information about the company such as financial data and data on the workforce; Local 1404's bylaws; research correspondence; interviews with both union and company officials; minutes and notes of negotiation and grievance meetings; Better's extensive notes on contract provisions and negotiations over the years; and a file concerning the Gisholt plant closing in 1971.

The 1968 NEGOTIATIONS RESEARCH series focuses on documents created and notes gathered during 1968, which are organized by topic. Included are many of the same kinds of documents found in the first series, with the addition of Better's extensive field notes, and of course, information about the strike.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Maurice Better, Madison, Wisconsin, 1986. Accession Number: M86-495

Processing Information

Processed by Donna Sereda, 1999.

	Series: Writing & General Research
Box   1 Folder   1	“A Partial Framework for the Analysis of the Contract Negotiation Process Applied to the Experience of Local 1404, USA and the Gisholt Machine Company: 1937 through 1953,” by Maurice B. Better, 1966
Box   1 Folder   2-4	“The Collective Bargaining Process--Case Study and Analysis,” by Maurice Bernard Better, 1973 (Ph.D. dissertation)
Box   1 Folder   5	Basic Steel Negotiations, Clippings, 1967-1968
Box   1 Folder   6	Economic Climate in Madison and Dane County, 1960s
Box   1 Folder   7	Gisholt Financial Data, 1941-1969
Box   1 Folder   8	Gisholt Labor Agreement Dates, 1937-1966
Box   1 Folder   9	Gisholt Machine Company, Miscellaneous, 1967-1969
Box   6 Folder   1	Gisholt Work Force, Dec. 1967
Box   1 Folder   10	Interviews, 1966-1969
Box   1 Folder   11	Local 1404 Bylaws, 1966 and earlier
Box   1 Folder   12	Machine Tool Industry, 1901-1969
Box   2 Folder   1	Miscellaneous Notes on Contract Negotiations, 1937-1968
Box   2 Folder   2	Negotiation and Grievance Meetings, 1964 and 1966
	Notes on Specific Contract Provisions (notecards organized by topic), circa 1937-1968
Box   5	Grievances
Box   5	Wages
Box   5	Incentive
Box   5	Discipline
Box   5	Seniority
Box   5	Job Evaluation
Box   2 Folder   3	Notes on Specific Contract Provisions (organized by topic and chronologically), circa 1937-1967
Box   6 Folder   2	Notes on Specific Contract Provisions (organized by topic and chronologically), circa 1937-1966 and Comparisons with U.S. Steel Contracts (organized by topic and chronologically), circa 1937-1966
Box   2 Folder   4	Plant Closing, Clippings, 1970-1973
Box   2 Folder   5	Research Correspondence, 1965-1971
	Research (Company-Union Documents and Notes)
Box   2 Folder   6	Circa 1937-1946
Box   2 Folder   7	1947-1953
Box   2 Folder   8	1954-1959
Box   3 Folder   1	1960-1964
Box   3 Folder   2	1965-1968
	Series: , 1968 Negotiations Research	⇧
Box   3 Folder   3	“Descriptive Notes on the 1968 Contract Negotiations Between the Gisholt Machine Company and Local 1404, Steelworkers, April 5 through June 30, 1968 (the strike stage is not included),” [by Maurice Better], Aug. 8, 1968
Box   3 Folder   4	Bargaining Goals, 1968
Box   3 Folder   5	Bulletins and Letters to Union Members, 1968
Box   3 Folder   6	Demand Preparation Meeting, April 21, 1968
Box   3 Folder   7	Labor Agreement Improvements, 1968
Box   3 Folder   8	Interview with Union President Pat Patterson, April 18, 1968
Box   3 Folder   9	Local 1404 Column in Union Labor News, April-Dec. 1968
Box   3 Folder   10	Management Proposals, 1968
Box   3 Folder   11	Negotiations, April 9-25, 1968
Box   3 Folder   12	Pension Plan, 1968
Box   3 Folder   13	Strike, 1968
Box   3 Folder   14	Strike Settlement Agreement, Sept. 26, 1968
Box   3 Folder   15	Supplemental Unemployment Benefits Plan, 1968
Box   4 Folder   1	Union Proposals, 1968
	Field Notes, 1968
Box   4 Folder   2	April 21 - May 23
Box   4 Folder   3	June 4-30
Box   4 Folder   4	July 1 - Sept. 27
	Details of the Conversations; Notes on the Interactions
Box   5 Volume   1	May 8 - June 4 (Stage 3, Phase 1)
Box   5 Volume   2	June 11 - 19 (Stage 3, Phase 1, continued)
Box   5 Volume   3	June 21 - 27 (Stage 3, Phase 1, continued & Phase 2)
Box   5 Volume   4	June 28 - 30 (Stage 3, Phase 2, continued)
Box   5 Volume   5	July 2 - Sept. 19 (Stage 4, Phase 1 & Phase 2)
Box   5 Volume   6	Sept. 23 - 28 (Stage 4, Phase 2 & Stage 5, Phase 1)