ND, SMC discuss WRC future
By MOLLY McVOY
Saint Mary's Editor
Representatives of Saint Mary's and Notre Dame attended a Worker's Rights Consortium (WRC) convention in Chicago last weekend to discuss the organization's governing board and policies and to ask questions about the labor watchdog's institutional identity.
Saint Mary's attended as a voting member, while Notre Dame, which is still a member of the Fair Labor Association (FLA), attended as an observer. This was the first WRC event that was open to non-members.
"I think it was very successful," said Sandy VanderWerven, the Saint Mary's representative. "The group seems to be moving rapidly and the people [who are not members] seem very interested."
William Hoye, the representative from Notre Dame, explained that the University had many questions about the WRC's governing, finance and policies that they wanted answered before they consider taking any steps.
"I thought it went well," Hoye said. "It was great to know that other schools, both members and non-members, have exactly the same questions we do. It was also frustrating that a lot of our questions have just not been answered. The WRC is still in such an early stage."
The structure of the working groups that will determine the consortium's organization were discussed at the meeting. Once the governing board is elected by e-mail this week, that body will appoint working group members. The groups will consider and finalize the bylaws and policies, and the entire organization will meet again in June to begin implementation.
There also was discussion about cooperation with the FLA, VanderWerven said.
"We want to open up a dialogue between the FLA and the WRC," she said. "It sounds like a good idea to me because we're both working towards the same goal."
Notre Dame hopes to have a one-on-one meeting with WRC representatives, Hoye said.
"We came in wanting more information. The meeting didn't give us much in the way of answers; it was comforting to see that we're not alone in our concerns," Hoye said.
Saint Mary's has said that part of the excitement of joining the WRC in its early stages is being involved in the development of the governing board and its policies. Notre Dame has said that it needs to wait until the WRC is more solidified.
"We're in a different situation than Saint Mary's," Hoye said. "We have put so much in place at Notre Dame on our own. We're so far down the road in our own system that it makes more sense to get information now. We need to see if what they are doing is compatible with what we're already doing."
All News Stories for Monday, May 1, 2000
