Activities during World AIDS day 2007
Activities carried out by the ITF affiliates during World AIDS day 2007
Argentina
The Sindicato Encargados Apuntadores Marítimos Y Afines de la Republica Argentina (SEAMARA) hold an information and HIV/AIDs prevention campaign event on the 1st of December. The Centro de Jefes y Oficiales Maquinistas also organised a leadership-level discussions on the importance of addressing HIV/AIDS with the aim of incorporating HIV/AIDS issues into general bargaining negotiations in collective agreements. The union also negotiated with the National Nautical School of Argentina to incorporate HIV/AIDS awareness into STCW 95 training.
Brazil
A viewing of the ‘Highway of Hope’ film was organised by the Sindicato de Conferentes de Cargas e Descarga nos Portos do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. They distributed white ribbons to mark ‘No to Violence Against Women’ day, and display the posters for 1st December marking World AIDS Day. The Confederaçao Nacional dos Trabalhadores em Transportes Terrestres (CNTTT) organised number of events in bus garages and topping places along two major truck routes. They also distributed condoms donated by the health authorities.
Bangladesh
The civil aviation union, Biman Sramik Union, BBSU organised a campaign workshop and rally. The Bangladesh Naujan Sramik Federation produced campaign materials.
Costa Rica
The public transport union UNATROPYT in collaboration with employers produced leaflets, flyers and T-shirts and distributed hem in rallies.
Colombia
The Asociacion Nacional de Servidores Publicos del Instituto Nacional de Vias organised meetings in regional union offices to raise awareness, focusing on areas where the population is more vulnerable. The Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Empresa Naviera Fluvial Colombiana S.A. showed the ITF film and hold a debate aimed at gathering proposals for its own HIV/AIDS campaign.
The Sindicato de Conductores de Taxis de lace Cartagena organised a meeting aimed primarily at youths, in the poorer neighbourhoods of lace Cartagena to address issues related to HIV/AIDS.
Ethiopia
Tripartite meeting on the impact of HIV/AIDS was organised by the Transport and Communications Workers’ Trade Unions Industry Federation.
Eritrea
The Eritrean Transport and Communication Workers Federation, in collaboration with the National Confederation of Eritrean Workers organised a general knowledge competition on HIV/AIDS. A brief drama on the subject with songs and a display of posters and banners were also organised.
Ghana
ITF coordination committee in Ghana organised a discussions session with employers, government agencies and other relevant stakeholders on the importance of working together in preventing HIV/AIDS infection and provide care and support. They organised a rally with all stakeholders. ITF affiliates from Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Nigeria who participated in a workshop "Engaging Global Terminal Operating Companies in Workplace Responses to HIV/AIDS" also took part in the programmes.
Guatemala
The aviation union USTAC and the municipal workers’ union SINTRADGTMIIV in collaboration with employers distributed leaflets and flyers among members.
Guinea-Conakry
The ITF women's coordinating committee organised a tripartite meeting with the unions, employers, government and the national centre CNLS, a day of sensitisation around the benefits of voluntary testing with women transport workers linked to wholesale fish merchants was also organised. .
Guyana
The Clerical & Commercial Workers’ Union participated in the Government programme and also displayed posters at the 35 companies that they represent. The union organised a "balloon prayer service" with the aim of eliminate the discrimination attached to HIV/AIDS.
Honduras
Together with other Central American unions, the Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Empresa Nacional Portuaria (SINTRAENP), Sindicato Reformado de Marinos de Honduras (SIREMAH) distributed leaflets and flyers posters.
India
Awareness raising activities organised by the Eastern Railway Men’s Congress (NFIR), these include group discussions, seminars, workshops, writing contest and debates among adolescents. ITF campaign posters also distributed.
Calcutta Port Shramik Union organised education programmes and classes for tractor drivers and other workers.
The All India Railway Federation organised awareness raising activities for the union leadership at zonal, divisional and branch level as well as for workers in general and frontline staff in particular. This awareness programme was done via road shows and NUKKADNATAK, street plays.
The Aviation Industry Employees’ Guild (AIEG) organised discussions and campaigning on HIV/AIDS among members and other aviation industry agencies. On World AIDS day the Aviation Industry Employees Guild displayed banners, distribute pamphlets and badges to staff
The Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers’ Union organised HIV/AIDS education and awareness programs targeting taxi drivers and civil contract workers. The union organised free health check-ups for the public and drivers.
The Cochin Port Staff Association organised seminars and exhibitions targeting private sector workers such as truck drivers, cleaners and cargo handlers.
The Tamil Nadu Road Transport Workers’ HMS Federation organised 16 state transport unions and four private transport unions plan and conducted a state wide meeting to mark the action day.
Awareness programme, campaign materials in local language distributed by the Madras Port Trust Employees Union.
On World AIDS Day, the Paradip Port Workers’ Union, HMS conducted meetings involving union members and resource persons from an NGO "Sradhanajali Bhubanweswar’ Stevedores/C&F agents also organised awareness programme in HIV/AIDS for their employees.
Education and awareness programmes on HIV/AIDS for railway employees and their family members was organised by the South East Central Railway Mazdoor Congress. ITF campaign materials were widely available to employees and the public. Youth and young workers were particularly targeted and condom distribution programmes arranged.
The Transport & Dock Workers’ Union, Kandla organised seminars, awareness programmes using musical nights, puppet shows and street plays will target migrants and truck drivers. The union work in partnership with Transport Corporation of India and YMCA to raise awareness amongst truck driver and cleaners.
Transport & Dock Workers’ Union, Mumbai organised a programme to emphasis the need for HIV/AIDS awareness and its prevention with the All India Port & Dock Workers’ Federation on AIDS awareness at P.D’Mello Bhawan on 1st December 2007.
Jamaica
The Bustamante Industrial Trade Union distributed HIV/AIDS materials during their Triennial General Assembly which held just before World AIDS day. The union also participated in the programme organised by the Ministry of Health.
Kenya
The Railway and Allied Workers Union (RAWU) organised a march from union headquarters to the workplace and then onto a venue where celebrations are to take place to mark the day.
Malawi
The ITF railway affiliate, CEARWU developed HIV/AIDS policy with participation of both union and management and provide anti-retroviral drugs by trained clinical staff and provide nutrients/supplementary foods to patients. The Transport and General Workers' Union organised a rally at Mwanza border post, the screening of the ITF documentary "Highway of Hope" was shown at Mwanza and Chipata border post plus some bus depot such as Wenela, Lilongwe and Mzuzu.
Mali
During the World AIDS day week, La Coordination Nationale des Syndicats et Associations des Chauffeurs et Conducteurs du Mali set up number of kiosks in and around Bamako which were used as HIV/AIDS information centres to sensitise their members.
Mexico
The Alianza de Tranviarios de Mexico organised training for its leaders in HIV/AIDS issues.
Niger
The ITF national coordinating committee organised a national action day, which includes the sensitisation of employers and workers, training of educators on HIV/AIDS and communication techniques in the cities of Niamey and Tahoua.
Nigeria
The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN) organised a press conference and a road show to begin at the airport travel to the centre of the state capital. They distributed materials to airline passengers.
Pakistan
A materials distribution campaign was organised by the The Aircraft Technologists' Association of Pakistan.
Panama
Sindicato de Trabajadores de Servicios Maritimos, Remolcadores, Barcazas, y Afines de Panama (SINTRASERMAP) distributed leaflets and flyers to members.
Paraguay
The Union de Sindicatos de Trabajadores de Transporte organised viewing session of the ITF film. Workshops organised on 28, 29 and 30 November, jointly with the ILO.
Peru
The Dockers’ union FENTENAPU organised a workshop for December first, using ITF materials, and with a showing of the ITF film.
Senegal
In Senegal the Syndicat National des Travailleurs de la Marine Marchande (SNTMM) set up information booths in ports, maritime stations, railways and roads.
Tanzania
The Communication and Transport Workers' Union of Zanzibar plans conducted campaign meetings and distribute materials to the branches, leaders, and town area bus drivers.
Thailand
ITF’s affiliates in Thailand have been active in implementing awareness programmes for their members since the beginning of the epidemic in the country. On 1st Decemger, ITF’s Thai affiliates conducted a day long field visit to Wat Phrabatnumpu (Phrabatnumpu Temple) in Lopburi Province (Central Part of Thailand) where the people living with HIV/AIDS are taken care of.
Around 250 participants from 4 unions (most of them are from BMTA-SWU, and the rest came from TRAN U., AOT-SWU and SRUT) joined this trip to know more care and support programmes conducted by Buddist monks in Thailand. They also had a discussion session with the people who are suffering from AIDS gave them inspiration and donated lots of necessary stuff and money (Thai Bhat 118,104/US$ 3000.00).
Togo
The ITF national women’s coordination committee organised capacity building workshop for women members. The Syndicat des Travailleurs du Port Autonome de Lomé (SYNTRAPAL) distributed posters and stickers amongst its membership.
Uruguay
Unión de Sindicatos de Trabajadores del Transporte (USTT) organised educational HIV/AIDS workshops from the 28th -30th of November 2007. The Union Centro de Marinos is distributed information manuals to all its members
Zimbabwe
ITF railway and civil aviation affiliates organised workshops to raise awareness amongst their members about the importance of being tested and living positively and how to communicate with people who are already infected.
