Workers' brown bag sessions seen to boost HIV and AIDS prevention campaigns in factories

In a tough environment to sustain workers’ awareness about the growing number of HIV and AIDS incidence in the country, a labor federation has found brown bag session during union break meetings an effective way of helping curb the spread of the disease in their workplace and community.

More than a hundred officers and members of Mondelez (formerly Kraft Philippines) workers’ union were taught that it’s okay to share spoons, forks even shirts with or kiss people living with HIV and AIDS during their union break held last Saturday in Sucat, Paranaque factory.

The one-hour learning session was organized by the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) and designed by the Shell Foundation as their shared commitment in battling the spread of HIV and AIDS. The activity coincided with the universal commemoration of 2014 International AIDS Candlelight Memorial and Mobilization held the same day.

“At the end of the session, we learned that HIV and AIDS can be acquired through contaminated blood transfusion, drinking of contaminated breast milk and unprotected anal sex. But we also discovered that it’s okay sharing a spoon or a fork, drinking glass, and wearing shirts worn by people living with HIV or with AIDS. Timely and factual information like these enables us with an informed choice when we are confronted by a situation in either the community or in the workplace. The information shared with us also freed ourselves from the myths and falsehoods surrounding the disease,” said Allan Abena, president of the Mondelez employees union.

He added that union members also learned that it is unlawful for companies or employers to discriminate workers with HIV and AIDS from employment or promotion serve as a basis for firing employees as he urged other unions and companies to do the same.

The ALU, with the help of Shell Foundation, is planning to hold more brown-bag sessions or union breaks discussion about HIV and AIDS issues inside factories, offices and other workplaces to help curb the spread of HIV and AIDS.

“In sustaining the focus on HIV, we are re-introducing this very basic but concise, factual information about HIV and AIDS to our union members and try to create a significant series of break in the cycle of stigma and discrimination about the disease. In order for the information to stick in their minds, we try to connect the issue with their simple everyday objects, experience or personal habits,” said Alan Tanjusay, ALU policy advocacy officer and spokesman for the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).

The ALU is the biggest affiliate of labor center TUCP and the largest labor federation in the country today. While it manages the most number of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) of unions in various public and private industry unions, it also represents workers’ voice in various tripartite policy discussions on many important national issues. ###

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS, CONTACT:

 
Alan A. Tanjusay,  spokesman & OIC-Media and Public Information Department, TUCP& Policy Advocacy Officer, ALU
Mobile Phone: +63.906.410.2134  / Landline: (63-2) 922.5575 local 122 / Email: associatedlaborunions@gmail.com
Office Address: TUCP-PGEA Compound  Maharlika corner Masaya Streets, UP Village Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Mimaropa had a recent interview with Dr. FERCHITO AVELINO, Executive Director, Philippine National AIDS Council Secretariat, when he conducted an re-orientation at the PIA Central Office.

The interview, conducted in Filipino, discussed basic information on HIV and AIDS as well as its prevention and treatment. 

Watch them all at these links: http://bit.ly/1vP2cKA, http://bit.ly/1hey55H and http://bit.ly/1gV7ujB.

Although there were technologies reported to have shown potentials to treat HIV and AIDS, there is still no cure (as of this writing) and prevention remains the best way to arrest the spread of disease.