AIDS and HIV remain a major public health issue around the world, and so does workplace discrimination against people with AIDS/HIV.

As we mark World AIDS Day, it’s worth noting that the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is renewing its effort in the workplace to focus on and promote action on AIDS and HIV, and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) local unions continue to raise funds for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation—more than $7 million to date.

CWA has focused on the fund since 1990, when Elizabeth Glaser spoke at the CWA national convention about the devastating effects of pediatric AIDS. Glaser knew the subject intimately. She contracted HIV from a blood transfusion during childbirth in 1981 and unknowingly passed the disease on to both her children. You can read more about her story here.

The ITUC’s AIDS goal, “Getting to Zero,” means pushing to eliminate HIV infections and AIDS deaths as well as workplace discrimination against people with real or perceived HIV or AIDS.

This year is an important anniversary. Thirty years ago, the first case of AIDS was identified. Today, nearly 34 million people live with HIV worldwide and more than 7,000 new infections occur every day. And the worldwide economic downturn has hampered efforts to prevent new infections and to help people live with HIV and AIDS.

The union movement’s lesson on World AIDS Day is simple: Working people won’t turn away from people with AIDS.