Working with HIV/ AIDS
A Seminar
Wednesday 7th February 2007
1:30pm to 4:15pm

at the UCU Centre, Britannia Street,
London WC1
organized by
The Institute of Employment Rights

About the Seminar

More people were diagnosed with HIV in 2005 than in any previous year and more people are working with HIV than ever before. But too often ignorance and discrimination get in the way of how we deal with the issue in the workplace.

One of the most significant changes in the consideration of HIV and AIDS has been the amendment of the definition of “disability” under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 by the Disability Discrimination 2005. The DDA now prohibits discrimination against people living with HIV from the moment of diagnosis – an improvement on the previous position when people were only covered from when they experienced the symptoms of HIV infection.

The illness as it affects the life of an individual worker, the discrimination and harassment that they may face if others know of their status and any access to support for partners, dependents and friends are of huge importance. Related health and safety issues for workers and how the illness is managed and the fact that HIV is used as a smokescreen for homophobia and racism complicate how we deal with the issue in the workplace.

Other considerations include:

· targeted HIV prevention initiatives
· ensuring that all HIV/AIDS workers have access to the best standards of support in the workplace
· Ensuring the best use of government funds through effective targeting of resources and monitoring.

This seminar will offer advice on how to develop a suitable HIV/AIDS policy, thereby helping reps challenge prejudice, ignorance and fears in the workplace.

Programme

1:30 registration

1:50 welcome from chair, Carolyn Jones

2:00 HIV and AIDS in the workplace: An Overview
Stephen Bitti, UKC

2:30 HIV and AIDS: A Trade Union issue
Jennifer Mitchell, Unison

3:00 tea and coffee

3:15 The DDA and HIV
Catherine Casserley, DRC

3:45 questions and discussion

4:15 close

Speakers

Stephen Bitti is Chief Executive at the UK Coalition of People Living with HIV and AIDS (UKC)
Catherine Casserley is Senior Legislation Adviser at the Disability Rights Commission
Carolyn Jones has been the Director of the Institute of Employment Rights since 1989
Jennifer Mitchell works in the Health and Safety Department at Unison, with particular responsibility for developing policy on HIV

Who should attend
The seminar will be of great interest to trade unionists, employment lawyers, personnel specialists, academics and students and those concerned with the development of public policy.

How to book
To reserve your place, complete the form below and send your cheque, made payable to IER, to the Institute of Employment Rights,
The People’s Centre, 50-54 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5SD
Tel 0151 702 6925; fax 0151 702 6935; office@ier.org.uk

CPD, NPP and EPP accreditation
This seminar counts for 2 hours under the Law Society’s Continuing Development Scheme and the General Council of the Bar’s New Practitioners’ Programme and the Established Practitioners’ Programme.

How to get there
Nearest stations are: Kings Cross and St Pancras (tube and British Rail)

Cost
IER subscribers and members £45.00
Trade unions £60.00
Commercial £120.00

Booking form
Please reserve places at the Working with HIV/AIDS seminar at £
Name
Address
email
Organisation
Please invoice me/I enclose a cheque for £