[media-credit name=’BRYAN FAUST/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]The University of Wisconsin Labor Licensing Policy Committee met with Chancellor John Wiley to further discuss current issues surrounding UW merchandise production and workers’ rights Wednesday.

The meeting was a result of recent protests by LLPC members and frustration on behalf of both parties regarding the role of the advisory committee. Some of the committee members resigned last month in response to a letter Wiley had written, which members described as “harsh.” The letter reminded the committee that their position as an advisory committee does not require compliance by Wiley.

Wednesday’s meeting brought together all current and former members to once again discuss a plan of action. In a release prior to the meeting, members said if the chancellor was unwilling to “take proactive measures to ensure that UW clothes are not made in factories in which workers’ rights are systematically violated,” the remaining members would resign.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Wiley apologized for the tone of his earlier letter and said he was irritated at the time of writing it due to demands the group was making that he saw as unfeasible or against his own procedures.

LLPC members told the chancellor they wanted the university to demand that licensees disclose information of the volume of merchandise they produce at each factory, a maneuver they believe would raise accountability. However, Wiley said he was not convinced this action would have a real impact.

“You overestimate the influence of a single university,” Wiley said.

Wiley also reiterated that UW has a strong code of conduct with all their licensees. According to Wiley, the university does business with approximately 450 licensees, and thus far they have documented only two that have gone against UW policies. Those licenses were terminated.

However, LLPC student member Liana Dalton said the code does not necessarily mean corporations are obeying.

“We can’t expect just because they signed it they will comply with it,” Dalton said.

In addition, LLPC member Dennis Dresang said the members feel their requests and advice to the chancellor are being ignored. He cited the contract that was recently renewed with Adidas, which is not part of the committee.

“I’ve had the sense that the committee is irrelevant,” Dresang said.

Wiley said at the time, he did not see a need for approval for the committee because there was not a change in the contract.

But LLPC member Jane Collins argued that the Adidas contract could have been an opportunity for the university to put pressure on one of the biggest apparel corporations, ultimately pushing for volume disclosures.

Wiley said he does not want to take action that will be purely symbolic, however he is more than willing to join other universities to demand volume disclosure from companies because it will take more than one university to make a difference.

However, Dalton pointed out the urgency in the situation in order to be sure UW is not supporting sweatshop conditions for workers.

“They are losing their jobs as we speak,” Dalton said. “We want a strong commitment that we will be moving forward.”

Wiley said he is unavailable to meet with the group on a regular basis and therefore the group works closely with Special Assistant to the Chancellor LaMarr Billups. Members expressed frustration with this process because they said the information Billups shares with them often seems to be different from what Wiley believes.

Billups and Wiley both agreed they would work harder together to communicate after each meeting. Billups also added that he would be traveling to Washington D.C. this week to push corporations to discontinue business with factories that have sweatshop conditions. He said when he returns next week he will immediately meet with the LLPC to continue dialogue on issues. He also agreed to meet throughout the summer to continue making progress.