Solidarity in fighting the global HIV/AIDS pandemic

Dominica workshop sponsored by NUPGE in partnership with PSI

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) sponsored a workshop in Dominica in January as part of its commitment of working internationally to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

In partnership with Public Service International’s Caribbean Sub-Region, the three-day workshop focused on understanding the human rights and employment issues relating to HIV/AIDS.

“HIV/AIDS and the World of Work – a Dominican Perspective,” brought together members of the Dominica Public Service Union (which also hosted the workshop), the Dominica Association of Teachers, the Jamaica Public Service Union, healthcare workers, and activists from community groups.

The workshop was co-facilitated by PSI-Caribbean Coordinator Sandra Massiah, and OPSEU/NUPGE member Lisa Walter.

Participants shared their knowledge and experiences of dealing with employers, government, and their communities in their work on HIV/AIDS-related issues. They also assessed the national and international legal human rights framework, and explored discrimination and stigmatization in depth, to understand its nature and the impact on people affected by HIV/AIDS. Participants then identified the roles their organizations could play in mounting an effective nation-wide campaign, and began to put the pieces of the campaign together.


Workshop participants of HIV/AIDS and the World of Work - a Dominican Perspective. Back row: Ermine Rene-Roberts, Catherine V. Solomon, Bernadette Austrie, Irma Edwards, Heather Robin, Kendra St. Amie; Centre row: Rachel Duran, Keenan Ferreira, Ophelia Linton, Alista Green, Jozette Matthews; Front row: Deborah James-Bethel, Marlise McKoy, T. Joey Maximea, Julietta Baptiste, Sandra Massiah.

The impact of globalization on Dominica has been profound, and was obvious in ways as simple as this advertisement in the midst of the school district in the capital, Roseau.	Members of the workshop "passed the hat", raising E.C.$235 for the Sunny Rainbow Alliance, a volunteer group providing the only HIV/AIDS palliative care for Dominicans.

Participants grapple with the distinction between discrimination and stigmatization in the context of HIV/AIDS.

For Walter, the experience was exhilarating: “There’s an important role for trade unions to play in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This is an opportunity to work in partnership with unions and non-governmental organizations of other countries, to help challenge governments and policy-makers to address badly-needed funding and human rights protections. I was very proud to represent OPSEU/NUPGE in this ground-breaking initiative.”

“I came away having learned a great deal about HIV/AIDS challenges – not only for Dominicans but for Canadians as well,” added Walter. “My personal glimpse into one small corner of the global challenge has brought Canada’s into sharper focus. We haven’t yet dealt with the discrimination in our communities that is helping HIV/AIDS to grow. In Canada, the rate of infection is continuing to climb, especially among marginalized groups – something we tend to conveniently forget.”

“I’m also more keenly aware now of the pressing need for Canada to become proactive among nations in dealing with the pandemic, particularly in providing affordable drug treatments. It was unforgettable to witness the Caribbean struggle and to play a small part in it. Having seen what Dominicans can do with so little, I can see the tremendous potential we have as a nation. The only thing we lack, it seems, is the will, which may be our biggest obstacle of all.”

Web posted by NUPGE: March 2004