The District Department of Public Works (DPW) is outfitting its front-line sanitation workers with new, professional uniforms. In recent years, budget constraints have curtailed spending for uniforms, forcing many employees to wear their own jeans and t-shirts on the job, rather than heavy-duty clothing more suitable for trash collection, solid waste disposal and street cleaning.

DPW Director, Leslie Hotaling, said, "Our employees deserve the best working conditions we can give them. We got them new trucks in March so they could do their jobs better. Now - with the new uniforms - they look professional on the job, too, which makes us all look good."

Under a contract with Unifirst Corporation, the 550 employees working for DPW's Solid Waste Management Administration (SWMA) will each receive 11 uniforms (11 light blue shirts and 11 dark blue pants) plus a lightweight jacket, two pair of thermal coveralls and a thermal jacket.

Every week the uniform vendor will pick up the soiled uniforms and return them the following week, laundered and pressed. According to SWMA Administrator, Tom Henderson, this arrangement actually costs DPW less than buying the uniforms outright, and ensures that employees always have a week's worth of clean uniforms on hand.

The uniforms will have the employee's name sewn on the shirt, as well as a DPW patch and DC's stars and bars. Those employees belonging to a union - the overwhelming majority - will also be allowed to wear their union patch. SWMA employees also have a choice of safety shoes. While there is some variation in style, fit and features, the shoes all have steel toes and a rigid sole.