Consists of materials collected and generated by Steve Early for his 2011 book, The Civil Wars in U.S. Labor: Birth of a New Workers' Movement or Death Throes of the Old? The book examines labor disputes among unions, primarily related to union structure, membership rights, organizing strategies, and contract standards. In particular, the book deals with the 2009 leadership struggle within UNITE HERE, and the campaign by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to place United Healthcare Workers West (UHW) under emergency trusteeship and subsequent formation of the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) by expelled UHW leaders. Organizations and unions discussed in the book include SEIU, UHW, NUHW, UNITE HERE, Workers United (WU), the California Nurses Association (CNA), the Federación de Maestros de Puerto Rico (FMPR), and SEIU Member Activists for Reform Today (SMART). Contains interviews, reports, articles, news clippings, research notes, correspondence, and audiovisual materials, including a 2008 interview with Steve Early.

Series 1 contains material used for writing the preface, introduction and first chapter, "The Quest for Union Renewal." Consists of SEIU convention materials, clippings, research notes, and correspondence on Federación de Maestros de Puerto Rico (FMPR), also known as the Puerto Rican teachers' union, as well as the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and the California Nurses Association (CNA). Also includes research and interview notes for individuals profiled in the book, notably Andy Stern, Rose Ann DeMoro, Mary Kay Henry, Sal Rosselli, and Wade Rathke.

Series 2 comprises research materials for Chapter 2, "Taking the High Road to Growth?" Records pertain to SEIU conflict management strategies in relation to health care unions and health care corporations, including Yale-New Haven Hospital and Tenet Healthcare. Also includes documents related to health care organizing, home health care workers, and the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital unionization. Contains interview notes on Barbara Lewis and Bob Muehlenkamp.

Series 3 consists of materials used in the writing of Chapter 3, "A Scramble for New Members." Comprises correspondence, articles, and research notes generated from the conflict between SEIU and CNA at the 2008 Labor Notes Conference, and between SEIU and NUHW in regards to the 2009 election in Fresno, California.

Series 4 comprises research materials for Chapter 4, "Dial 1-800-MY-UNION?" and includes articles and correspondence pertaining to SEIU Member Resource Action Service Centers (MASC) and Member Resource Centers (MRC) which were created to handle grievances, and the implementation of call center services in California and Illinois. Also includes notes from interviews with Tom Balanoff, SEIU Executive Board Member, and Local 1 staff.

Series 5 contains Chapter 5, "Who Rules SEIU? (and Who Doesn’t)," research materials. Includes a Rutgers University study on SEIU restructuring as well as notes, correspondence, clippings, and articles regarding investigations in to SEIU leaders and members of SEIU's International Executive Board.

Series 6 materials, used in the writing of Chapter 6, "The Mother of All Trusteeships," relate to the SEIU's 2008-2009 campaign to place United Healthcare Workers West (UHW) under trusteeship and subsequent formation of NUHW by former UHW leaders. Consists of legal documents, protest flyers, news clippings, and notes and memos from interviews with UHW lawyers, former UHW officials John Borsos and Paul Kumar, and former U.S. Labor Secretary, Ray Marshall. Also includes case studies of ealier SEIU trusteeship cases in Rhode Island and California.

Series 7 comprises research materials used in the writing of Chapter 7, "Ivy League Amigos No More." Includes interview notes, news clippings, articles, and correspondence pertaining to UNITE HERE's 2009 conflict in leadership resulting in then-President Bruce Raynor breaking away and forming Workers United (WU), a new union affiliated with SEIU.

Series 8 contains research materials and interview notes used in the writing of Chapter 8, "The Progressive Quandary." The bulk of the materials pertain to the SEIU/UHW/UNITE HERE conflicts as seen from various sides. Includes copies of a letter signed by leading academics and political activists regarding SEIU's move to put UHW under trusteeship. Also includes correspondence between SEIU leaders and staff in the aftermath of the letter's publication.

Series 9 contains material on Chapter 9, "How EFCA Died for Obamacare." Comprises news clippings, interview notes, and organizational documents related to 2008-2010 health care and labor law reform campaigns.

Series 10 contains materials used in writing Chapter 10, "Labor Day: The Sequel." Includes correspondence, notes, and articles documenting the 2009-2010 battle between NUHW and SEIU to represent workers at Kaiser Permanente. Also includes campaign materials and legal documents generated after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) called for elections to determine bargaining rights for Kaiser workers in Southern California.

Series 11 consists of research materials and notes generated while writing the conclusion, "Signs of a New Workers' Movement?" Includes articles by Steve Early in SMART News! and notes and correspondence pertaining to SEIU Local 221 elections in July 2009, and the SEIU and CNA alliance in March 2009.

Series 12 consists of audiovisual materials containing interviews with leading union organizers, as well as an October 27, 2008 interview with Steve Early on Pacifica radio.