FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2005

Board’s Purchasing Procedure is "no sweat"
The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board has revised its Purchasing Procedure to include a section on the purchase of apparel. Through the addition of a section entitled Humane Working Conditions, the Board will make every effort to ensure that apparel purchased meets international standards and local laws for what is now commonly referred to as “no sweat” conditions.

The Board has joined other school boards and the local office of the Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) in taking a stand on “no sweat” working conditions.

“As an educator of children, this Board has a vested interest in doing business with companies that operate under ethical working conditions,” remarks Judy Edgar, Chair of the Board.

Momentum for the change began earlier this year following a presentation to trustees by OSSTF – Local 29 which has adopted its own “no sweat” policy.

According to Scott Marshall, president of Local 29, “Sweatshops come in all shapes and sizes but the workers are usually women and young children.”

The new Purchasing Procedure takes effect immediately. Specifically, the new wording states, The Board is committed to make every reasonable effort to ensure that all apparel purchased by the Board is manufactured under humane working conditions in compliance with accepted international standards and local laws.”

The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board has 54 schools serving 18,400 students, employing 1,070 teachers and 705 support staff. The Board covers a wide geographical area of 7,221 square kilometres bordered by Maynooth to the north, Deseronto to the east, Prince Edward County to the south, and Quinte West to the west.

For information, contact:
• Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, (613) 966-1170, or 1 800 267-4350 ext. 2354
• Judy Edgar, Chair of the Board, (613) 921-3203