The Coalition Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice Nick Herbert was given a rough ride yesterday at the first conference of UNISON's reconfigured Police and Justice service group held in Chester.
The usually "well disciplined" union members heckled and laughed at the Minister who told the conference that austerity measures were needed and there was no alternative! The Minister then further enraged the conference by defending the two year pay freeze and claiming that the pensions attack was needed to continue an affordable scheme. Mr Herbert was then questioned by UNISON members on a whole range of issues that made the minister wriggle with some of his answers!
Later on at the conference UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis rallied support from delegates for the strike ballot taking place in defence of pensions: "we know that some forces are probing police staff for information on the strike. Members are legally entitled to take action and we will not stand for staff being bullied by bosses" http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/110699
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