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UA rep sent to WRC conference in Chicago

Observation trip designed to gather information about

A UA representative went to the Big Ten Conference headquarters last week to observe discussions between universities about how the Worker Rights Consortium should run.

University of Arizona spokeswoman Sharon Kha flew to Chicago to see the first university only gathering about sweatshop monitoring.

Representatives from 37 schools decided on how the three university seats will be picked for WRC's 12 member governing board. A third of the universities observed, while two-thirds were WRC decision-making members, Kha said.

The University of Arizona is a member of the Fair Labor Association, another monitoring group with a 14-member board, including one university representative.

Kha said the UA still has several questions after the meeting, including funding and what mechanism will be used to monitor factories.

"I think we realized it's not just the U of A, but a common concern among universities," she said.

UA President Peter Likins is drafting a letter with his advisers to find out the specifics of the WRC, copies of the organization's budget, charter and plans before making a decision.

"It's an inquiry that's a preclude to membership," he said.

Likins is asking WRC Coordinator Maria Roeper to send him the information.

"You don't join an organization with knowing the obligations," Likins added.

The three university board members for WRC's board will be decided Friday.

Each of the university board members represents the amount schools pay for membership. There are three groups - schools paying the $1,000 fee, the $1,000 to $10,000 fee group and schools who pay more than $10,000.

The fees are based on how much university revenue earns from the college apparel and shoe licensing business.

UA's Human and Labor Rights Task Force recommended to Likins in a letter to be a member of both organizations - FLA and WRC.

Students Against Sweatshops President Lydia Lester also wrote a personal letter about how her group was pleased with the Task Force's choice.

The universities also formed a steering committee during the gathering - made up of three WRC university representatives, two representatives from each work group and two members-at-large would make up the group. The work groups are for specific areas, such as disclosure and WRC bylaws.

August is Likins' deadline to withdraw from the FLA if they haven't established an independent monitoring system - a result from SAS's 10-day sit-in last April.