Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) World AIDS Day Statement

none 27 Nov 2007 – 9:17

by mlepeska

Leadership is the theme for World AIDS Day 2007. The ongoing campaign slogan of the World AIDS Campaign is “Stop AIDS – Keep the Promise”. The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) joins all Canadians in drawing attention to current efforts on fighting the HIV epidemic in Canada and across the world

In keeping with this year’s theme, we are asking the federal government to show leadership by ending its silence on HIV/AIDS and show concrete commitments to fight the disease at home and abroad.

The CLC is asking the government to do what we have undertaken ourselves. As an organization representing working women and men, we have worked within union structures on strengthening workers’ ability to fight the epidemic.

Here at home, we can show success, however modest. At the legislative level, we are proud of the work the CLC has done with other organizations on amendments to our patent laws. As a result of this work, Canadian generic drug companies have been forced to export affordable and accessible medicines to countries that need them. The law came into effect in May 2005. “Thousands if not millions of lives will be saved as a result of this modest effort which was supported by Canadians” said Kenneth Georgetti, CLC President.

Our approach to our work is consistent whether we are working at home or internationally, which is based on relying on our strengths. As a labour movement, we rely on the collective bargaining process and membership solidarity to make important gains in the workplace and society in general. Therefore, we will continue working with our affiliates and sister organizations around the world, for work place-based programs.

As part of our international commitments, we have worked with trade union organizations in countries such as Zimbabwe and Tanzania, where shop stewards have been trained and workplace programs are in place and supported by unions and employers. We work to end inequity, poverty and poor education and lack of access to information. Labour education in these countries is making a difference in the lives of workers and their families, where workers discuss preventative measures and access to health care and treatment.

Our work will continue to be guided by the following principles:

• Protecting workers’ rights and addressing equity issues;
• Promoting workplace education and prevention programs;
• Shaping policies that make health care and social supports available to workers and their families;
• Tackling the core issues and inequities that fuel the spread of HIV.

As part of our ongoing efforts, we will continue to work in solidarity with our affiliates in Canada and sister organizations around the world, in fighting HIV/AIDS. We will support efforts at the workplace, community and national levels. Also, within union structures, we will support the work of union committees and labour education on HIV/AIDS.

The labour movement is showing leadership in combatting HIV epidemic in Canada and across the world. It’s time for the federal government to show leadership. A place to start this year, would be to immediately announce renewed funding for the Global Fund on HIV/AIDS.

The Canadian Labour Congress, the national voice of the labour movement, represents 3.2 million Canadian workers. The CLC brings together Canada’s national and international unions along with the provincial and territorial

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