ITF affiliates in the Caribbean have increased their commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS on behalf of their members, as Dr Syed Asif Altaf reports

An ITF workshop about the challenge of HIV in transport, held in Guyana in June, attracted participants from across the Caribbean. It had come at a positive moment in the development of awareness among trade unions in this region, who increasingly understand the need to play a much bigger role in efforts to bring the epidemic under control. Recently, and in a short time span, prevalence rates have shot up in the Caribbean, where reports suggest young people begin their sexual initiation earlier than their peers anywhere in the world.

The main objective of the workshop was to help affiliates and leaders in the region to gain a trade union perspective of the HIV phenomenon and to find ways to address it as a workplace issue. It set out to help unions develop a workplace policy and collective bargaining agreement on HIV/AIDS, in coordination with relevant stakeholders.

Understandably the emphasis in the public eye is on Sub-Saharan Africa, where the problem of HIV/AIDS is devastating. But countries in other regions have to focus on their own HIV challenges. The Caribbean now has a prevalence rate of 2 per cent, which means that one in 50 people is infected. Young people in the Caribbean are quite knowledgeable about how HIV is transmitted, yet their knowledge has not resulted in preventive behaviour.

Straight talking

The Guyanian health minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who formally opened the workshop, reported on progress made in the country since 1987 in introducing HIV/AIDS prevention and care programmes. Notably, drugs for people with HIV are now free of cost to all Guyanese. However, he acknowledged that the health sector alone cannot accomplish the task of combating HIV/AIDS. It needs to work in partnership with other agencies including trade unions, who can play a vital role in workplace policy formulation and in the education and awareness of their membership and their families.

"Trade unions in the Caribbean increasingly understand the need to play a much bigger role in efforts to bring the epidemic under control."

Dr Ramsammy also encouraged trade unions to advocate and join with the ITF, the International Labour Organization and others in support of global efforts to tackle the pandemic on a variety of different fronts. He pointed toward the ever-changing nature of debate and research, with new preventive tools potentially close at hand – for example, the development of a vaccine, and a microbicide in the form of a cream or gel to be applied internally by women – so giving a measure of control to those who cannot negotiate for condom use or other forms of safe sex.

Caribbean advocates By Derek Alleyne, assistant general secretary, Barbados National Union of Public Workers Another HIV/AIDS seminar in the land of many a wide river When falls of rain embellish the flowing, breathtaking Kaieteur waterfall Where precious stones abound in gold, bauxite, emeralds and silver, Inviting friendship, commerce, pleasure of all sorts to one and all. This time the seminar focused on the challenging topic of behavioural change And the participants reflected various backgrounds, sex and age From across the region covering the islands, the continent, the entire range, A mix of cultures and influences, but committed and ready to work and engage. The topics were designed to reflect, stimulate new ideas and to plan And the delivery made sure that the message was simple to understand. The message and the focus to every participant, woman and man: HIV/AIDS is the killer and their job was to design an eradication plan. So we discussed the facts and the figures of the region and internationally, The impact on the economy, the individual and of course the family, How to test for, how to and how not to catch the virus personally. Most of all to help victims be free from stigma and discrimination totally. Four days of group work, of examining the facts in case studies, Where debate aided knowledge acquisition and its smooth transfer, Strengthening the bond of regional collaborators, even if not yet buddies, But converted and committed to the cause and better equipped to deliver. So as we say our farewell and head home don’t forget the subject Remember the condom is safe when used in time and correct, But abstinence and sticking to one partner are options to assert In the fight to reduce or eradicate HIV/AIDS with lasting effect.

However, the minister did not shy away from calling on unions to embolden their quest for gender equality, without which little progress can realistically be made in defeating the disease.

The societies of the Caribbean are diverse, yet they share a problem in having failed so far to turn around negative and risky patterns of sexual activity or by extension the adverse effects HIV/AIDS will have on the workplace.

Sharing experience

Group work sessions gave participants at the seminar a chance to share information about developments relating to HIV/AIDS in the region. One key development may be the impact on the spread of HIV/AIDS of the removal of barriers to the free movement of people through the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.

As trade unionists and transport workers, participants explored effective ways in which both employees and employers would benefit from the establishment of a workplace policy and programme. All recognised that such a policy would be in the interest of all stakeholders and should be embodied in all collective bargaining agreements. We dealt extensively in our discussions with the issue of workers’ rights and fair treatment in relation to HIV/AIDS, but focused in particular on the issue of how workers with HIV can be helped to keep and cope with their jobs.

The ITF promotes the ideal of universal access to HIV/AIDS services in the workplace and at the same time recognises how deeply entrenched social, economic and political issues can complicate every aspect of the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Overcoming stigma in the workforce, negotiating for healthy working conditions, addressing gender issues – these and other challenges must be grasped as part of the commitment of trade unions to reach out to the workers, their families and young people. Sometimes affiliates will find they need to reach outside of their comfort zones to tackle new and difficult ground. For unions in many regions, including this one, it will not be possible to represent the interests of workers unless they do so as a central part of the organising strategy. HIV/AIDS is everybody’s business.

It was clear at the end of the workshop that the passion and commitment of participants for the task of developing a workplace policy to deal with HIV had increased. The ITF for its part pledged its ongoing and unwavering commitment to battle with affiliates against the scourge and devastation of HIV/AIDS. All of us promised to do our bit to continue to spread the vital messages about prevention, care and support, through education, campaigns, counselling, testing facilities and electronic media.

Dr Syed Asif Altaf is global HIV/AIDS project coordinator for the ITF.