The current government has turned back the clock, deepened disadvantage and ridden roughshod through hard-won equality protections. We must engage everyone with an interest in equality as we prepare for May 2015.

The fringe meeting will discuss and debate the reforms to LGPS governance, what it means for the union and for union members who want to become pension fund reps, to discuss the organising programme to support this work.

Our members working in the voluntary sector are being directly affected by these job losses, whilst members experiencing domestic abuse are at risk of disciplinary measures directly related to absence and performance as a result of their experiences. This fringe meeting exploring why this remains a priority for women in UNISON as activists, members, service users and providers, and why our campaigning work must continue.

Current government attacks on collective bargaining and facility time and their systematic weakening of employment rights, trade union freedoms and access to justice leave workers vulnerable. So what do we want to see from a Labour government?

Brain injury is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Annually 1-1.4 million people attend a UK hospital with a head injury and 135,000 are admitted to hospital.

Every 10 years unions have to hold a ballot of their members to maintain their political fund and our campaigning voice. This meeting sees the launch of our ballot campaign for a YES vote in the ballot which will take place in November 2014.

Cuba and Venezuela are at the forefront of the progressive changes sweeping the region. The fringe focuses on these alternatives to austerity budgets, showing what can be achieved when the needs of people are the priority.

This meeting will offer an opportunity to think about how we raise our game in local campaigns to ensure that saving public services is high on the political agenda.

On September 18 this year resident voters in Scotland will vote in a referendum: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”. What are the issues for UNISON, our members at work, the public services we provide and the communities we live in?

UNISON believes TTIP is a profound threat to public services which will not only lead to further liberalisation but which will make it harder for government to regulate private companies providing public services and could effectively prevent a future government bringing those services back in-house.

Continued attacks on jobs and pay have left our members feeling under threat and facing unprecedented levels of stress. Discuss how these factors are impacting on our H&S at work – what we can do to organise and campaign to fight back, and why recruiting more members will help in our struggle to keep us safe and healthy at work.

Palestinian people remain under occupation and the international community is failing to recognise and act against Israel’s continued breaches of international law. Join us to discuss what the next steps are in support of justice and Palestinian human rights.

Universal free school meals for infants in England will be introduced in September. Myles Bremner, the director of the School Food Plan (SFP), will be at conference to tell delegates how and why this policy has come about.

Women are disproportionately hurt by local government cuts. They make up three quarters of local government workers and they are the main users of public services. This fringe event will launch UNISON