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Another tribunal (UCU this time)

59 replies

ifIwerenotanandroid · 06/02/2024 18:14

Will this one be accessible online? I'm always the last to hear about this stuff so I thought I'd get in early this time (it's next month). I've just seen a tweet about it, but it's to do with crowdfunding, so I think I can't link to it. It's about bringing 'an employment tribunal claim against UCU for unlawfully discriminating against us because of our protected 'gender critical' beliefs':

'Scheduled screenings of our film have twice been cancelled by protestors at the University of Edinburgh. On both occasions the Edinburgh branch of the Universities and College Union (UCU) denounced the film as 'hate speech' and 'transphobic'. We are members of UCU and yet the union has treated us and the film as beyond the pale and unworthy of a place on campus. '

All info gratefully received.

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5
HellonHeels · 11/04/2024 11:44

I wonder if UCU will attempt to settle now? Given that the tribunal clearly doesn't think their behaviour is reasonable.

But...it's the UCU,.so.maybe not.

Tatatan · 11/04/2024 11:39

nauticant · 06/02/2024 22:29

You can make a claim to an employment tribunal if you think someone has treated you unlawfully, such as your employer, a potential employer or a trade union.

Thanks, Meanacademic Today 05:39. I found the comment made by nauticant on p.1 of the thread. And it is at https://www.gov.uk/employment-tribunals#:~:text=You%20can%20make%20a%20claim,unfair%20dismissal too. Still confused as to how this works, however.

Make a claim to an employment tribunal

How to take an employer to a tribunal: the hearing, what happens if you lose your case, how to appeal.

https://www.gov.uk/employment-tribunals#:~:text=You%20can%20make%20a%20claim,unfair%20dismissal

Meanacademic · 11/04/2024 05:50

Ah, what a shame we’ll have to wait for almost another year for the hearing …

GCAcademic · 11/04/2024 05:44

This is the latest update:

“The preliminary hearing of our case took place on Monday 25th March. The employment judge didn’t understand why UCU denies that its treatment of us is unwanted and wanted to know what the reason for UCU’s behaviour was, if not our protected beliefs. UCU have been ordered to provide further information about this by 16 April.

We also now have a final hearing listed for 31 March – 4 April 2025. There is plenty of work for our solicitors to undertake between now and then, so please spread the word and donate if you can.”

Meanacademic · 11/04/2024 05:39

See comment made by nauticant on p.1 of the thread - apparently it’s possible to bring a case against a union. Any other updates?

Tatatan · 10/04/2024 11:42

Got email today from https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/in-defence-of-academic-freedom - the ‘Adult Human Female’ film case by Deirdre O'Neill and Michael Wayne.
Seems to be no way of adding a Comment to the crowdjustice page without donating.
I want to know why they have brought an employment tribunal claim against UCU. I understand about the unlawful discrimination because of their protected 'gender critical' beliefs.
But UCU is not their employer. UCU is their union. Why is it an employment tribunal case? It sounds more like Shahrar Ali’s case against the Green Party - https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/worthy-of-respect-in-a-political-party - where the County Court ruled (9 February 2024) that the Green Party committed acts of unlawful discrimination against Ali because of his protected 'gender critical' beliefs.

In Defence of Academic Freedom

Deirdre O'Neill and Michael Wayne are university academics and occasional filmmakers.

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/in-defence-of-academic-freedom

SidewaysOtter · 18/03/2024 23:05

I’m very much looking forward to seeing the outcome of this!

fromorbit · 18/03/2024 13:21

UCU gets taken to court over its authoritarian love of censorship incoming.

Tuesday after next is the preliminary hearing on March 26th 2024. The purpose of this hearing will be to identify the issues and set directions and a case timetable. At last UCU will have to account for their behaviour rather than sticking their fingers in their collective ears and screaming 'transphobe' at all and sundry.

SinnerBoy · 07/02/2024 13:26

RoyalCorgi· Today 12:22

And also because they provide so much unintentional hilarity.

Sadly, not for the poor complainant.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 07/02/2024 13:20

They're also arrogant enough not to settle.

Meanacademic · 07/02/2024 13:02

Ah, the MN hive mind, ever resourceful 🤗

thanks for the links, Boiledbeetle and SidewaysOtter!

Reading through this, I’m just reminded how fucking bonkers the UCU leadership are. Joe McCarthy has nothing on them. Please, please, let this go to tribunal …

RoyalCorgi · 07/02/2024 12:22

I would certainly prefer a court case to a settlement, just to see the evidence.

And also because they provide so much unintentional hilarity.

Useful list from fromorbit - I wasn't aware of all of those.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 07/02/2024 12:17

Would be great for Jo Grady and some of her misogynistic acolytes to get the Ben Cooper or Naomi Cunningham treatment.

teawamutu · 07/02/2024 12:11

I've done a little bit of digging.

Go get em, team.

Boiledbeetle · 07/02/2024 11:53

SidewaysOtter · 07/02/2024 11:51

@Meanacademic this one?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hard-left-academics-plotted-gender-id-witch-hunt-on-colleagues-fdqnq5cb9

(Sorry for the non-share token version, I can’t get that to work on my phone)

The archived version

https://archive.is/bhtDp

afternoonoflife · 07/02/2024 11:51

This could be a VERY interesting case to watch for those of us who have developed a terminal disdain for the coterie of self-satisfied, vapid and craven pseudo-intellectuals that populate the upper echelons of UCU.

What a sentence. Also very much agree.

Meanacademic · 07/02/2024 11:36

Ah yes, the famous plot! I almost forgot. Apparently Grady conspired with some UCU branches to hound out ‘transphobes’, it was reported in the Times. Let’s see if I still have screenshots …

SinnerBoy · 07/02/2024 10:59

Another thing about #Operationletthemspeak is that it's likely to make their positions less tenable, after their awful, stupid wibblings and behaviour are exposed to scrutiny.

SidewaysOtter · 07/02/2024 10:48

<fetches gardening tools>

I will be delighted to see the arseholes that are UCU being dragged through a tribunal. It couldn’t be better deserved after their plans to hunt down GC staff at universities.

I hope it goes to a full hearing and it’s available online, because I’ll book holiday to watch every fucking minute of it.

Yours, a pissed off academia bod.

Pratincole · 07/02/2024 10:33

And i was just about to go outside and tidy up the latest wind blown rubbish from my garden but will have to do some indoor gardeniong first....

Meanacademic · 07/02/2024 09:13

Thanks for this, fromorbit. A long list.

I would certainly prefer a court case to a settlement, just to see the evidence. Remember when Jo Grady went on a Twitter deleting spree when she became general secretary? Some of her public musings were very unbecoming and downright mean. Imagine what she and those around her might be willing to say on email.

Boiledbeetle · 07/02/2024 08:50

It will be interesting to see how this one goes

Another tribunal (UCU this time)
Cancelledcurio · 07/02/2024 08:45

Good for them! May have to see of they require some extra seed packets and pots ! The trade unions are a shambles! Women paying into these for years to be dismissed as "transphobic". They have lot their founding purpose .

Rainbowshit · 07/02/2024 08:42

Looking forward to this one!