Supporting Kathleen Stock

[KaycePollard]

If you believe in academic freedom and respectful, evidence-based debate, you might like to look at the letter circulating via the GC Academia network (google or find on Twitter)

gcacademianetwork.org

And you might find this link useful too

my.ucu.org.uk/app/membership/cancel_membership

Thank you. Yes, I will be cancelling my membership now. The UCU is lead by a totally incompetent zealot and equally incompetent zealots are on the executive committee. It’s a joke. If enough people leave, they might realise that they have a big problem.

I am hanging on to UCU membership by my fingernails.

If enough people leave, they might realise that they have a big problem.

You see, I'm not sure they will. They give free membership to PhD students (which I actually think is a good idea) and there's probably a sient majority that stays in for all sorts of other reasons.

I left so reluctantly that I can't oppose anyone's decision to stay. But I'll join another group or union for legal protection. I've been silent (tho with comments on surveys etc) for years. I disagree with many of their policies and strategies.

But turning on an academic for doing what we are all employed to do? That's crossed the line, for me. I felt like a vegan buying shares in a foie gras farm until I pressed that cancel membership button. I'm not willing to pay them to do what they do.

Hope they do some good somewhere but I'm out until they change.

@KaycePollard

I am hanging on to UCU membership by my fingernails.

If enough people leave, they might realise that they have a big problem.

You see, I'm not sure they will. They give free membership to PhD students (which I actually think is a good idea) and there's probably a sient majority that stays in for all sorts of other reasons.

I think they will have to. They’re already in a bad way financially, seen in the compulsory levy they took last year when they ran out of cash. Phd students pay no subs. Profs and readers pay £27 a month. If enough subs-payers leave, they will need to address it.

I'd forgotten the compulsory levy. Between that, donations, subs - they've had a good 4 - 5000 out of me.

Did you know - politics aside - you can claim five year's worth of tax back on UCU membership www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/professional-fees-and-subscriptions

Nearly as quick as cancelling

Thanks @LooksGood . I didn’t know that. Not sure how I’ll find out how much I paid every year for the last 5 years, though?

I’d forgotten about the compulsory levy too. I still can’t quite believe they did that. What other organisation can get away with simply helping themselves to money from their members’ bank accounts because their incompetent leaders have run out of funds?

I’m not a member of UCU - I was never convinced of their value to me. I emailed Kathleen Stock today to express my support and copied in her VC.

Download transactions from online bank account @Feline1 - they do them in handy spreadsheet form so you can filter / sort. Takes maybe ten minutes

Their value to me has never been great either. I joined on the union principle of mutual support. Since they've abandoned that principle themselves, why would I stay?

I also left today, after hanging in there for ages. Just can’t stomach it any more. My partner left last year. We both had been members our whole careers. I wonder how many like us have left in the last while.

Thanks. @LooksGood. I don’t think my app does this. I can only see the individual payments. Could ask at my bank, I suppose.

I had to go online on the full website to get it - normally use app. Bank would give it to you on paper though I'm sure @Feline1

Is there an alternative Union we can join instead?

Some people have joined GMB. Others have recommended Affinity. I have scheduled a phone call with Affinity and will be sure to join some group before the month is out - that's when my membership will expire.
I'll explain to Affinity why I've left UCU and if that bothers them I'll go elsewhere ...

Kathleen Stock has had her career ruined because she believes men cannot change into women-a fact, not an opinion and because she wants to wants to address the issue of women's spaces.

Please do buy her book. Let's push it to the top of the bestselling charts.

I've just bought her book. I hadn't until now as I don't have time to read it atm, but I'll put it aside for when I have a few days off work.

Excellent and ask every library to buy it, including Sussex University library.

Good idea. Clicked on Amazon to buy the Kindle format and found I own it already. This happens more often than I'd like - no time to read.

Maybe I'll gift a copy to Sussex uni library so ...

Thread from Twitter about UCU which I agree with:

twitter.com/anonacademic_uk/status/1448004720405225476?s=20

Just bought Kathleen Stock's book; that will skew my recommendations on Amazon!

Just had my thread on supporting Kathleen Stock taken dow. Put up another to ask why and that was deleted...surprising, not!

On that second thread, someone suggested it was because Mumsnet was against Transphobia (the new definition of this must be very wide) and someone else said it might be because it was possible I worked for the publisher! i don't.

No, Mumsnet. Ordinary people can have ideas about how to support Kathleen because they are angry for her, not because they have a commercial interest. Sad to think that Mumsnet can't accept this.

Purchased at Waterstones this morning.
I noticed it is "unavailable" online.

I also had to ask to find it. Assistant was sure they had it, but couldn't find it.
Not under philosophy or new non fiction.
I came back an hour later and they had found it!
Not on display at all, but it's pretty woke here.

Statement of solidarity from other academics can be signed here

go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=docs.google.com/document/d/11ZNAyfkeaPPzLd5PyEvM2NTV4SBphOWr-ueofTrtLu4/edit?usp=sharing