Forged in the heat of intense negotiations between union mediators, Progressive Student Labor Movement protesters and Harvard administrators, a new committee has been formed to address labor issues at Harvard--including outsourcing, benefits and a living wage.

The committee, which will be chaired by Professor of Economics Lawrence Katz, is responsible for reporting to President-elect Lawrence H. Summers by Dec. 19.

Although the committee's report and recommendations will not be binding, both Harvard spokesperson Joe Wrinn and PSLM members have expressed their belief that the committee's findings are likely to guide Harvard's employment policies.

According to a statement released by the Harvard News Office, the new committee will not be limited to the issues or conclusions addressed by the May 2000 report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Employment Policies.

Led by Weatherhead Professor of Business Administration D. Quinn Mills and made up of faculty and administrators, that committee recommended increased health benefits and worker training in place of a wage floor such as the one proposed by PSLM.

PSLM has repeatedly termed the Mills report inadequate for workers' needs, and has accused the Harvard administration of dragging its feet in making benefits accessible to workers.

With 11 faculty members, two administrators, three unionized workers and four students--two undergraduates and two graduates--the new committee represents a demographic departure from both its predecessor and from other University committees, which almost never include students.

The Undergraduate Council's Student Affairs Committee (SAC) will select the undergraduates and the Graduate School Council will choose the graduate students.