Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary says: “We welcome World AIDS Day, which helps to put a focus on year-round efforts to challenge the stigma of HIV and the myths that continue to surround it, which cause real and lasting damage to those living with HIV. I want to thank our workplace reps for the work they are doing to support members with HIV and ensure they understand and are able to assert their rights at work, as they do for all members living with a hidden disability.
“HIV under employment law is one of only five conditions that is considered a disability from the point of diagnosis. People living with HIV are also protected from harassment and victimisation at work, or from being treated unfavourably because of something arising as a consequence of their HIV status.
“Employers who are aware of a worker’s HIV positive status must make reasonable adjustments to the workplace environment, to job duties and to policies and procedures to prevent them being disadvantaged at work. That is best achieved in trade union organised workplaces and with the support of a workplace trade union rep. Together we are challenging discrimination, prejudice and ignorance.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
World AIDS Day: https://www.worldaidsday.org
Usdaw leaflets about the rights at work for those living with HIV:
· Hidden disabilities: www.usdaw.org.uk/446
· Are you affected by HIV? www.usdaw.org.uk/410
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion