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Fighting AIDS through the Workplace – World Aids Day 2009

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Fighting AIDS through the Workplace - World Aids Day 2009

Trade unions - alongside employers, governments and local communities - have a crucial role in fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The pandemic has a particularly devastating effect on working populations in many developing countries, particularly in Africa. The TUC, with TUC Aid and the Department for International Development, has a long history of working in partnership with developing country trade unions to combat HIV/AIDS and to fight discrimination in the workplace and in society.

The TUC is currently working with trade unions in Ghana, in Nigeria and in Uganda, more can be found out about these projects here: http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/index.cfm?mins=488&minors=465

delegates at the TUC World Aids Day SeminarOn World Aids Day 2009 http://www.worldaidsday.org the TUC ran a seminar to highlight and celebrate the role of trade unions in defending the interests and rights of affected colleagues and their communities and explore ways of enhancing their achievements. The theme of World Aids Day 2009 was 'I want to live my rights,' the seminar explored the many things that still can be and should be done to ensure that those affected can live their rights in the workplace. The TUC was delighted that the HIV/AIDS project co-ordinator from the Ghana Trades Unions Congress http://www.ghanatuc.org , Daniel Boatey was able to join us to address the seminar and meet affiliate unions.

Mike Foster Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development Daniel Boatey, Ghana Trades Union Congress, Lord Bill Morris, Kay Carberry TUC Assistant General Secretary, Dr Asif Altaf, HIV/AIDS Co-ordinator, International Transport Federation, David Borrow MPThe seminar, chaired by Lord Bill Morris, was opened by Kay Carberry, TUC Assistant General Secretary, who detailed the workplace initiatives supported by the TUC in Africa, emphasized the significance of the ILO Recommendation on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work to be adopted at the ILO Conference in 2010 and warned of the adverse impact of the adoption of the private member's Bill on homosexuality currently before the Ugandan Parliament on the efforts to prevent the spread of the disease in Uganda.

Mike Foster Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development addressing the seminar

Mike Foster, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development, stressed the importance of workplace initiatives in combating HIV/AIDS. The Minister stated that, 'trade unions are the unsung heroes in the global effort to reduce HIV and AIDS.' He also pledged support for the work carried out by the TUC in the fight against the pandemic in Africa.

L-R Daniel Boatey, Ghana Trades Union Congress, Lord Bill Morris, David Borrow MP, Dr Asif Altaf, HIV/AIDS Co-ordinator, International Transport FederationThe participants also heard from David Burrow MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on HIV/AIDS http://www.appg-aids.org.uk who informed them of the APPG's awareness of the impact of AIDS on developing countries and that it attached great importance to the global efforts at prevention. He pointed to the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS and praised the work done by the trade union movement in the fight against it.

Daniel Owusu Boatey, HIV/AIDS Project Co-ordinator at the Ghana Trades Union Congress, made a presentation on the outcomes of a workplace initiative funded by the Bill Morris Testimonial Fund for HIV/AIDS through TUC Aid. Daniel informed the participants that awareness-raising at the workplace level, carried out in collaboration with the Timber and Woodworkers' Union (TWU) had been a success. Union officials trained under the Project had taken the message to the shop floor and Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) clinics were attended by 1,157 workers. He pointed out that 43 workers had tested positive, that they had been referred to hospitals for further tests, treatment, care and support. It was found that the prevalence rate among the workers in the timber and forestry sector was found to be higher at 4.3% than the national average of 1.7%.

Dr Asif Altaf, HIV/AIDS Co-ordinator, International Transport Federation addressing the seminarDr Asif Altaf, HIV/AIDS Co-ordinator, International Transport Federation (ITF) http://www.itfglobal.org/index.cfm , referred to the vulnerability of transport workers throughout the world, explained simple ways of awareness-raising and minimising the risks of infection and underlined the importance of the use of condoms.

After the speaker's contributions and questions from the floor, there was a panel discussion conducted by Andy Harvey, Education and Training consultant, Eleanor Briggs, Assistant Director, Policy and Campaigns, National AIDS Trust, Gertrude Hambira, General Secretary, General Agricultural and Plantation Workers Union of Zimbabwe, Nick Sigler, Head, International Relations, UNISON and Simon Dubbins, Head, International Relations, Unite.

Daniel was also interviewed for Colourful Radio FM on World Aids Day, where he spoke about the role of trade unions in combating HIV/AIDS in the workplace and the project in Ghana supported by the TUC and the Bill Morris Foundations. You can listen below:

To find out more about how you can support the TUC's work in Africa on HIV/AIDS consider supporting TUC Aid, a trade union charity working throughout the world: http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/index.cfm?mins=265

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