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.
