Do Australias big unions have sexual identity anti-discrimination policies?
The first unions to respond to anti-gay persecution in the early 1970s were the builders, maritime and teaching unions. In the mid-1970s, and early 1980s, major trade unions and regional labor councils adopted positions against discrimination, and supported removal of state laws against homosexuality. Now all states in Australia have some form of anti-discrimination provision. In 1984, gay union activists and their allies led several trade unions to adopt policies on HIV with regards to occupational health, pensions, discrimination and prevention education. Many of the community organizations that currently provide support for people with HIV in Australia came out of efforts by trade union members in particular workplaces to provide support for seriously ill colleagues. Some of the policies about sexual identity and HIV lapsed after many Australian unions merged in the 80s and 90s. They were replaced by more general anti-discrimination and occupational health policies at national union
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