The Labor Licensing Committee, whose ultimate goal is to have university-licensed companies uphold fair labor practices, has commendable ideals. However, the decision of four members to resign in light of a dispute with Chancellor Wiley over his decision to be less harsh with licensees, hurts their worthy cause more than it helps.
The LLC is an advisory committee, and their recent attempts to become more than that threaten the progress they have already made in influencing the university relations with companies such as Adidas. They would be far more successful if they committed to work with Chancellor Wiley rather than overstep their boundaries and try to undermine his efforts.
Despite the expiration of the Multi-Fiber Agreement, which had governed where the garment industry can station factories, the university should continue to demand licensees follow the Code of Conduct that governs labor practices, a fact upon which the LLC and Wiley are in agreement.
The actions of the resigning LLC members suggest they believe Wiley is incapable of holding licensees accountable to the Code of Conduct. Yet there has been no evidence that Wiley is incapable of holding licensees, especially Adidas, accountable.
The chancellor has the right, at his discretion, to demand a report of Adidas' labor practices according to the new sponsorship agreement approved approximately two weeks ago. We have advocated that the Board of Regents hold Wiley accountable by having him regularly report to the board the labor practices of Adidas.
Unless Wiley proves to be incapable of holding licensees accountable to the Code of Conduct and fair labor practices, members of the LLC do not need to take drastic steps such as resigning. Such an action, which would effectively make the committee nonexistent, eliminates any leverage interests outside the university have in determining university policy towards licensees.
