Tim Steinweg

Amsterdam, March 14th, 2008

Procure IT Fair

Campaign at your university; a practical approach

Who we are and what we do

• European civil society campaign

• Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands

• Focus on the buying power of large institutions

• Call for use of social criteria in procurement

Today’s program

1. Our findings

2. Our approach

3. Why it is important

4. Our demands

5. Your role

Today’s goals

• To inform you

• To stir your enthousiasm

• To get your feedback

Our findings

20071009 Unimicron 1min 41secs.3gp

Our findings

Our findingsA 23-year-old woman worker:

“Sometimes when I was queuing up for my turn to take a shower, I fell asleep on my bed. I was so tired. Suddenly it was the next morning and I went straight to work.”

A 24-year-old Henan male worker:

“My nerves become tensed as I step onto the shop floor…. There’s no use watching out for yourself. You will definitely be fined for violating one or another of these irrational rules!”

A 19-year-old Guangxi girl who has worked in Compeq a year:

“I work like a machine and my brain has rusted.”

Our Approach

Call on public buyers to take labour conditions into account

• Criteria list

• Buyer’s guide

• Campaigning material

• Internet resources

Our Approach

Call on public buyers to take labour conditions into account

• Political lobbying

• Engagement with public buyers

• Informing students

Why it is important

• Some figures;

• CZ: € 150 million

• NL: € 900 million; 17% of all government purchases

• DE: € 17 billion; 20% of all computers sold

• Huge market power!

Why it is important

• University of Amsterdam

• 250 computers

• every 5 years

Our demands

We need your feedback!

3. Take the working conditions in the full supply chain of IT hardware into consideration

4. Ask all tenderers to provide full transparency regarding their supply chain

5. Avoid purchasing IT hardware from companies that violate human rights or labour standards

Our demands

We need your feedback!

4. Ensure sustainable recycling of IT hardware after end of use

5. Inquire about the source of the metals used in their products, and the approach of the tenderer to sustainable sourcing

6. Take possible precautions that IT hardware purchases do not lead to unreasonable pressure on wages, working hours and supply lead times

Your role

• Talk to your universities• It is important

• They can make a difference

• It is not impossible

• Inform other students• Create a base

• Do something creative

If they are not convinced…

• Use our materials!

If they are still not convinced…

• Let us talk to them• workshops and lectures

• Direct engagement

• Campaigning assistance

So what do you think?