The spectre of Aids stalks sub-saharan Africa and picks off five people every minute. One of the poorest regions on earth is losing its children, and potentially its future, while we in the west receive newly updated medicines and advances daily.

Up to 50,000 people will die this winter because they can't afford to heat their homes. We explore the relationship between fuel poverty and health - and how local action can make a difference

The number of people living with HIV is on the rise. On World Aids Day we look at the global impact of the disease

In a world where plastic surgery and heart disease have hit record levels, just what is healthy living? We trawl through the conflicting advice and latest fads to give you the low-down on feeling high

For most of us, the weeks before Christmas mean the annual battle to find the right gift for our families and friends. We all want to treat those we love, but do we necessarily want to buy into the consumer culture?

Care for the elderly is free in Scotland - but not in the rest of the UK. We report on the financial and emotional struggle facing many people

The asbestos-cancer, mesothelioma, is set to become the biggest occupational killer but with little investigative research into the disease no cure is in sight. Join our fight against this terrible disease

A quarter of all women in the UK experience some form of domestic abuse. And this affects their position in the workplace. We look at how employers can do much more to help

The education sector has become a major target of the rising violence in Colombia, yet trade unionists in the sector go on fighting, as UNISON members on a recent War on Want delegation discovered

Sexual harrassment is still rife in some workplaces - and that makes it a big issue for trade unions. We report on the challenges women still face in the 21st century

The UK's biggest day of volunteering, Make A Difference Day, takes place on 25 October. We show how a spot of mentoring can benefit both you and your community

Today's single women pensioner stands a 25% chance of living in poverty. Unless the system changes the next generation are unlikely to fare much better

A two-tone society, with white men on top and women and ethnic minorities struggling to earn a crust underneath - can this really be the UK workplace in the 21st century? We explain how UNISON is fighting to change this

Current trade rules devastate workers in poor countries and further enrich the wealthy, which is why War on Want is demanding trade justice

Too busy to go on holiday? Don't let stress - or indeed vanity - prevent you from getting away this year. We examine the dangers of not leaving the office

The health of European public services is at stake with proposed new central legislation

Sold to the highest bidder, run for profit and given million-pound bailouts by the government. We ask just who signs the cheques for our public services?

The government claims it wants to eradicate child poverty yet is still to set a decent minimum wage. We look at what UNISON is doing to get people the wages they deserve

There's nothing more stressful and all consuming than being in debt. We offer suggestions to haul you back into the black

The government is throwing money at social housing in the UK. But there's a catch - councils will have to cede responsibility for running their properties

The voluntary sector has traditionally been under-organised, under paid and under valued. No longer, as we explore recognition work done by UNISON for members in the other public service

The overhaul of information technology in our national health service is critical for the future shape of health delivery in the UK. Electronic bookings, online prescriptions and telemedicine could be just around the corner

The explosion in prawn farming as western demand spirals is having a disastrous impact on the environment and workers across developing countries

Using our birthday as an excuse, we went knocking on famous doors - and asked what they thought the most significant event of the last decade was, their greatest personal achievement, their hopes for the future, and how they view unions

The government's modernisation agenda for public services is worrying many, as we report

When the boss starts behaving badly everyone suffers. And in some cases it can lead to long-term bullying. We give some tips on how to soothe the beast

A new law on age discrimination is set to transform the employment landscape - Dr Kerry Platman explains what it will mean for you

Don't think university is right for you but want to be a 'professional'? We explore the resurgence in apprenticeships and the government's attempts to modernise them

Exiled, derecognised, and ignored. But UNISON members working for London Electricity hung in there when the future was bleak. Now they have given birth to a new branch

The NHS is in the emergency ward; it is haemorrhaging money, skills, and staff. But most importantly it is losing blood. We explain how you can help

As pressure mounts - at work and at home - to conform to a fashion-led image of health, we discover how women and those on low incomes are losing out

The new Sexual Offences Bill should see the end of the homophobic Section 28 legislation - but could criminalise people who sunbathe in their own gardens

A few nerves when starting a new job are only to be expected. We run through some of the dos and don'ts on how to get through that crucial first day

A new BBC1 documentary tracks a day in the life of 10 NHS workers - and reveals the trials and tribulations facing this band of dedicated public sector workers

Harassment and assault are commonplace for over a third of nurses in the NHS. We report on how UNISON is calling for tough penalties for anyone found guilty of assaulting staff

Despite the introduction of the Equal Pay Act in 1970 women continue to lag behind men when it comes to pay. However the new Equal Pay Questionnaire means women will be able to expose employers who discriminate against them

The financial world is full of unscrupulous money lenders and loan sharks waiting to trap you in a vicious cycle of debt. We see how a UNISON-backed non-profit debt management company can help those struggling with their financial commitments

Reform of higher education has been high on the government's agenda, with promises to open it up to more working class students. The controversy over student fees is set to be reignited as details of the so-called 'access regulator' are announced

A UNISON steward and trade union convenor has seen her post axed by the local Lib-Dem/Tory council and banned from speaking to any of her union members.

Disease and death are rife among the one billion people worldwide who don't have access to clean drinking water. We examine what the World Water Forum - taking place in Japan on 22 March - can do to help.

National No Smoking Day is on Wednesday 12 March, highlighting the millions facing an uphill battle with cigarette addiction. Our writer talks about her efforts to overcome the deadly weed and the help that's on hand.

Verbal and physical abuse, suicide, indecent assault and rape were common at Broadmoor, alleges one whistleblower. We examine how unions can help those who want to expose bad practice.

In the online future you'll be able to pay your council tax, report a faulty streetlight and chase up your benefits via the web. E-government is promising to make all this possible - but how close is the reality?

The government has set bold targets in its energy white paper for the use of renewable energy sources - but we still lag behind our European counterparts

As an independent inquiry reveals that thousands of elderly people have been wrongly paying for medical care, just what are the implications for the future of long-term personal care in the UK?

Deputy prime minister John Prescott's recently unveiled 'Sustainable communities' programme aims to tackle the housing crisis - but at what cost for council housing and the environment?

Union stewards and activists put in many hours a week on their members behalf, and often in their own time. We speak to a number of reps about their facility time arrangements - or lack of them

The private sector is being hailed as the white knight for struggling councils. But billions spent on outside management would be better spent on in-house staff and upgrading facilities

Londoners must get ready for the congestion charge which the mayor, Ken Livingstone, is introducing on 17 February. But the critics are already calling for a postponement

Sweeping reforms of pay and conditions have been proposed for thousands of NHS workers - but unions are keen to emphasise that it's not yet a 'done deal'

New initiatives to encourage so-called 'distance learning' - using the internet - are hot news in government. We report on how workers can study in their own time from the comfort of their own homes