She's a state senator, an ardent
feminist and a victim of blatant
sexism.
She’s Mary "Wendy” Roberts,
D-Portland, one of eight Democrats fac
ing off in the May 23 primary election for
the labor commissioner s seat, which
Democrat Bill Stevenson is vacating.
The labor commissioner administers
the state Bureau of Labor, which en
forces civil rights laws, wage-and-hour
laws and the state’s employee appren
ticeship and training program.
A flood of civil rights complaints filed
with the labor bureau has resulted in a
backlog of cases that often are dealt with
too late, Roberts says. And as labor
commissioner she would “prioritize
cases for service.”
"Some cases have a time factor that is
crucial,” Roberts explains. “The fairest
way to deal with civil rights cases is not
always in chronological order.”
Because she is familiar with both labor
and legislative ropes, Roberts claims
she fits the bill for labor commissioner.
The University graduate and Hon
ors College member began her polit
ical career winning the house seat from
East Multnomah County. In 1974 she
won the Senate post and served on
labor, business, consumer committees
— and the powerful Ways and Means
Committee.
Roberts, 33, considers her experience
in both chambers essential to the labor
commissioner’s background — particu
larly when the Legislature begins draw
ing up the budget.
“You just can't walk into (the Legisla
ture) cold,” she says. "You have to know
who you are dealing with. The House
Feminist Roberts
says senate work
vital in labor battle
By CHRIS NORMAN
Of the Emerald
and Senate experience is helpful; the
Ways and Means, crucial.
“I can’t see not having any Ways and
Means experience because guess who
determines your budget — Ways and
Means. I’m the only one in the race who
has been on that committee. The advan
tage I have is that I understand the pro
cess.”
Roberts’s stiffest challenge may come
from Nellie Fox, the political director of
the Oregon AFL-CIO, and Ralph
Groener, a Clackamas county commis
sioner.
As a civil rights advocate, Roberts
concedes her feminist perspective will
influence her work as labor commis
sioner.
“A lot of women have lost their jobs
because they're pregnant,” she says.
“The employers decided either the
women can’t do the job or they are afraid
of a pregnant woman in the office.
"It’s absurd to say a woman can’t work
because she’s pregnant. How many
women are just slaving away when
they’re pregnant, washing clothes, mind
ing the kids, answering telephones,
making beds and fixing meals,” Roberts
argues.
‘ But, boy, they sure couldn’t handle sit
ting at a desk (typing),’’ she says acidly.
“You don’t hear about expectant fathers
losing their jobs and people worrying
about them because they might become
a father.”
Roberts says her staunch feminist at
titude stems from her actual experi
ences.
“There’s nothing like a divorce to find
out women can be self-sufficient,” she
says. Her parents were divorced when
she was 11; consequently, Roberts
grew up in a home where the mother
worked full time.
“It never occurred to (me) that there
was anything else,” she says. “(I) didn’t
go through the white-knight syndrome
where someone is going to come gallop
ing up on a big charger, step off and say,
My lady, I’m going to take care of you for
the rest of your life.' ”
But after several episodes during her
1966 travels in Europe, Roberts quickly
realized her personal interactions with
the people were based largely on the
fact she was a woman 'and I found that
pretty offensive.”
“Once I was beaten up in Paris for no
reason at all,” she says. “It was about 9
p.m. right on the main street, in front of a
big, outdoor cafe with a lot of people
there. Someone just came up to me.
grabbed me and told me to go with him.’
“And then he proceeded to beat me
when I refused to accompany him. I ran
into the cafe up to the counter and said,
This man is crazy, call the police.' But
they didn't want to get involved. Then he
ran in and said Don’t call the police,
she’s crazy. It’s just a family thing. ”
On that note, Roberts turned and flew
out the cafe door.
On another occassion in Paris she
was walking to her uncle's home when
some fellow started to follow her. After
she was inside the man knocked on the
door and tried to buy Roberts from her
unde.
She also had visions of joining the
state department, but shied away when
she learned women applicants were ad
vised to have typing skills.
“I think these experiences had af
fected me because I had achieved a lot
and leaned a lot in college and was pre
paring myself for being a real contribut
ing person in life to society with all these
noble ideas," Roberts says. “And then I
went to Europe and found out all that
was not considered.”
Beall events
rescheduled
Certain upcoming events at
Beali Concert Hall have been re
scheduled for the month of April.
The composition student’s reci
tal previously scheduled for 8 p.m.
Friday has been moved to 12:30
p.m. April 28.
The Brahms Horn Trio has been
scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Thurs
day.
A student recital by Carol Robe
was previously set for Wednes
day. The new date is April 27 at 8
p.m. Kathleen Bohn, scheduled to
give a recital April 27 has cancel
led her performance.
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