This equipment was donated by Thompsons solicitors

Working with HIV/ AIDS

Wednesday 7th February 2007

HIV and AIDS A Trade Union Issue

Jennifer Mitchell

Health and Safety Unit Unison

Institute of Employment Rights Working with HIV/ AIDS 7th February 2007

Contents

Trade Unions Operating Internationally

Trade Union Congress

UNISON Internationally and Locally

Institute of Employment Rights Working with HIV/ AIDS Wednesday 7th February 2007

Institute of Employment Rights Working with HIV/ AIDS Wednesday 7th February 2007

Trade Unions Championing The Fight Against HIV & AIDS

Pressure pharmaceutical companies

Develop prevention and protective clauses

Education & prevention programmes

Promote change in communities and workplaces

Eliminate discrimination

Institute of Employment Rights Working with HIV/ AIDS Wednesday 7th February 2007

Trade Unions Championing The Fight Against HIV & AIDS Cont;

Empowering women

Give assistance to the desperate

Negotiating better marketing of condoms

Seeking improved STD diagnosis and treatment services

Developing local initiatives

International Confederation of Free Trade Unions

Institute of Employment Rights Working with HIV/ AIDS Wednesday 7th February 2007

•Calls upon the G-8 leaders

•Responsible for creation of a permanent high level working group on HIV & AIDS

•Aim to achieve universal access to treatment by 2010

•Appeal to G-8 leaders to join employers and workers in a tripartite strategy to mobilise the comprehensive response needed to fight HIV & AIDS

Union Bodies Calling

Institute of Employment Rights Working with HIV/ AIDS Wednesday 7th February 2007

Trade union members worldwide to get involved in the World AIDS Campaign (WAC)

Last year’s theme “Accountability”

WAC website www.worldaidscampaign.info

Trades Union Congress (TUC)

• Encourage action centred on the workplace.

• Committed to help members deal with workplace issues raised by HIV & AIDS.

• Seeks to collaborate with others.

• Spread good practice.

Institute of Employment Rights Working with HIV/ AIDS Wednesday 7th February 2007

TUC/CBIConfederation of British Industry

• “…Nor is there room for complacency about the situation in the UK where the level of awareness of the threat to public health has diminished over the years”

Institute of Employment Rights Working with HIV/ AIDS Wednesday 7th February 2007

UNISON

National Delegate Conference Policy 2001

• “Support our sister unions across the developing world in their struggle to promote education and behaviour change in the workplace; eliminate discrimination, stigma and denial; and empower workers to end the burden brought on them by this disease”

Institute of Employment Rights Working with HIV/ AIDS Wednesday 7th February 2007

UNISON Contributions

• Women

• Public services

• Discrimination

• Southern Africa

Institute of Employment Rights Working with HIV/ AIDS Wednesday 7th February 2007

Initial UNISON Activities

• Assessment visits Africa, Zambia and Malawi.

• Seminar for every public service trade union in Southern Africa in Dec 2004.

• Delegation of 10 trade unionists to NDC 2005.

Institute of Employment Rights Working with HIV/ AIDS Wednesday 7th February 2007

Initial UNISON Activities cont;

• Advisor to international guidelines for health workers.

• Active members of the UK Consortium on HIV & AIDS and the Stop AIDS Campaign.

• Support and funding towards ITUC HIV & AIDS Campaign coordinator.

Institute of Employment Rights Working with HIV/ AIDS Wednesday 7th February 2007

Current UNISON Activities

• UNISON International Development Fund

• UNISON & PSI project

• Lobbying and campaigning to strengthen health systems

Institute of Employment Rights Working with HIV/ AIDS Wednesday 7th February 2007

Current UNISON Activities Cont;

• Branch twinning

• Support southern trade unions to be represented at international HIV & AIDS events

• Labour migration

Institute of Employment Rights Working with HIV/ AIDS Wednesday 7th February 2007

UNISON Local Level

• Liaise with and support local community and voluntary groups.

• Promote UNISON’s booklet Working with HIV & AIDS: A guide for branches.

• Work with employers to develop robust workplace HIV & AIDS policies.

• Work to ensure against discrimination.Institute of Employment Rights Working with HIV/ AIDS Wednesday 7th February 2007

Message from UNISON

• There is no known cure for AIDS so it is essential that we raise awareness.

• Urging union members to support World AIDS Day and continue to combat the ignorance and prejudice that fuel the spread of a preventable disease.

Institute of Employment Rights Working with HIV/ AIDS Wednesday 7th February 2007