Source: Guyana Chronicle, 8th May, 2008

CLERICAL and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) mounted a billboard at its Clerico House Headquarters, in Quamina Street, Georgetown, last May 1, to heighten its campaign against the direct impact of HIV/AIDS on the world of work.

The ceremony was themed ‘Fighting HIV/AIDS Together’ and a large group workers, decked out in t-shirts and caps for the May Day parade, were given appropriate placards to carry.

CCWU HIV/AIDS Coordinator, Mr. Sherwood Clarke acknowledged that the pandemic has already devastated many countries and communities and is spreading rapidly elsewhere.

Consequently, he said workers’ and employers’ organisations need to recognise their common interest on this issue and cooperate at both the workplace and the national level to promote effective action for addressing the unprecedented public health crisis.

We cannot afford to do anything less,” Clarke declared.

He said intense efforts to address the situation continue and must strategically target workplaces and communities where they can have the most effect.

Clarke said the work in this area will be built around the comprehensive International Labour Organisation (ILO) Code of Practice that covers areas such as education, prevention, training, assistance, workers’ rights, issues of discrimination, occupational health and safety and many others.

He said the ILO guide was developed through a tripartite consensus and employers and trade unions played important roles in the adoption.

It forms a sound basis for workplace partnership as well as for effective action on HIV/AIDS beyond the workplace,” Clarke noted.

He said the Ministry of Health is convinced that employers and trade unions, working together and building on that experience and expanding cooperation in the Caribbean, as well as across the globe, can accomplish a great deal more and achieve better results than either could produce separately.