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University staff common room

This board is for university-based professionals. Find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further education forum.

Resisting UCU recruitment

46 replies

BurgerChops · 12/07/2022 12:26

I'm an old-timer but have NC just in case.

For reasons discussed at length on this board I am not a member of UCU.

The branch secretary is in my department and on a recruitment drive. He's emailed me personally before about joining UCU but I've ignored these emails. He's bent my ear in-person a couple of times too. I was non-committal in these conversation because it was out-of-the-blue and I wasn't ready/willing for a long/deep conversation about it.

In the new academic year, me and this colleague are working together on a project (administration, thankfully he's not in my research or teaching area). The issue of me joining UCU will come up pretty quickly and pretty regularly I'd imagine. I'm not a confrontational person so I'm after some ammunition to stave him off which won't also get me into bother for being a TERF.

I should say that this colleague is a woke-bro pronoun person with a little fan club of smug he/her/theys that I'm keen not to provoke.

OP posts:
poetryandwine · 20/07/2022 11:27

Many good solutions have been proposed above. Your discomfort is the heart of the problem, so why not delve into that? How do you become comfortable with the fact that you do not owe this guy anything?

When you achieve that comfort I think this will get much easier.

BurgerChops · 21/07/2022 10:29

poetryandwine · 20/07/2022 11:27

Many good solutions have been proposed above. Your discomfort is the heart of the problem, so why not delve into that? How do you become comfortable with the fact that you do not owe this guy anything?

When you achieve that comfort I think this will get much easier.

Oh god, where do I start with that? Freud would have an absolute adventure with me if I started to unpick that issue because it's lots to do with my upbringing Grin

Essentially, it boils down to the coalescence of a couple of things.

  1. I'm not a confrontational person, especially at work. I see my job as just that - a job, nothing more, nothing less. I want to get my head down at work and be left alone, especially regarding things which are extraneous to my day-to-day work like union issues. I don't wan to be 'involved' at work, I don't want to be tangled up in politics (at dept, university or sector level).
  2. But while I'm not a confrontational personal, I'm also not very diplomatic and not at all afraid of conflict. But I have a tendency to step into battles too strongly, I escalate things too quickly then I panic that I've spun myself a web that I can't get out of.
My fear with union dude is that the situation would escalate too quickly and my GC views would be an issue for me at work. He is very very very anti-GC if his Twitter profile is anything to go by.
OP posts:
ExUCU · 24/07/2022 06:37

In what way would your (I assume mainstream) GC views be a problem at work? Unless you are actively hostile towards a trans-identified colleague, how can anyone object to reasonable views on this matter?

If you want to avoid having to worry about confrontations with this colleague, if it comes to a discussion, only express your GC views in the form of questions. Very soon, he won’t be able to answer them. Then you just shrug your shoulders and get on with your job.

Perhaps this situation is also affecting you because you see the stark contrast between this bloke mouthing off on social media and you worrying about revealing your (mainstream, legally protected) beliefs at work. You’re right, it’s not fair.

BurgerChops · 25/07/2022 14:19

ExUCU · 24/07/2022 06:37

In what way would your (I assume mainstream) GC views be a problem at work? Unless you are actively hostile towards a trans-identified colleague, how can anyone object to reasonable views on this matter?

If you want to avoid having to worry about confrontations with this colleague, if it comes to a discussion, only express your GC views in the form of questions. Very soon, he won’t be able to answer them. Then you just shrug your shoulders and get on with your job.

Perhaps this situation is also affecting you because you see the stark contrast between this bloke mouthing off on social media and you worrying about revealing your (mainstream, legally protected) beliefs at work. You’re right, it’s not fair.

Oh, several of my colleagues (including our EDI lead and our UCU branch secretary) most definitely object to GC views.

If I 'reveal myself' to be GC to our UCU man, other anti-GC colleagues will hear about it pretty quickly. I'm not sure what they'll do as such but my anti-GC colleagues are nasty piece of work. For example:
One of my anti-GC colleagues has previously dripped venom into students' ears to try and prompt a complaint about another colleague (not about GC issues I should say).
Same colleague accused a senior member of staff of racism, drew out a huge long process involving external reviewers, coaches and mediators. When all the external people came down on the other colleague's side (the one who'd been accused of racism) and asked the complaining colleague to meet half way, they filed a mass complaint of bullying against everyone involved.

I don't want to be tangled up in these people's dramas.

OP posts:
poetryandwine · 25/07/2022 14:56

What a vile atmosphere to work in, OP. Can you get comfortable with the stance that you don’t owe anyone a reason? ‘I’d prefer to keep it private, thanks’ if anyone is so crude as to ask directly for one.

Just repeat as necessary. You can start to sound annoyed after awhile and IMO you should seek relief from harassment. Hopefully it won’t come to that - it seems to me that if you can sound vaguely superior whilst maintaining a stance of privacy, the British will often back off. Easier said than done sometimes.

SirTiffikate · 26/07/2022 14:03

I think I see the problem. There are lots of firm, assertive things you could say, but you're going to be working alongside this colleague and you want to preserve a decent working relationship and not get into a discussion you don't want to have. I think that's fair enough.

Could you join a different union? If you're in Scotland, EIS is an option (they're around the table on pay and pensions, though might not have institutional recognition for local negotiations, that would depend on which university). If you're not in Scotland, I think university lecturers can be represented by Community - that's the successor union to Voice. I've no idea how good they are. But being in another union would be an effective way to get him off your back, as poaching isn't allowed.

If you can't/don't want to join another union, would another political disagreement do? As a PP said, the UCU has a rather dire track record with antisemitism, and there's its current very selective approach to defending academic freedom, though that might be a bit too close to the GC issue for you. Someone mentioned the SWP/Comrade Delta situation a few years back, but that probably wouldn't do it as the SWP aren't actually in control of UCU, just a faction that has quite a few NEC members.

I can't think of anything else that would satisfy someone who's determined to increase union membership. If it comes to it, maybe a "No, I've said I don't want to join, and please would you stop raising the matter as we need to work together harmoniously, and it's not helpful to dwell on something over which we disagree" would give him the message while emphasising that you do want to be able to work well with him.

BurgerChops · 28/07/2022 10:58

Yep, it's a pretty toxic department. I don't get involved - I just get on with my own teaching and research and keep out of the ridiculous, school-yard politics.

Yep @SirTiffikate That's exactly it.
Another union is a good idea. I did think about Free Speech Union as my GC views are what's most likely to get me into trouble at work. I'll have a think on it

However, the Allison Bailey verdict yesterday (plus Maya's outcome a few weeks ago) has given me some real strength to stand by my GC convictions. I'm not sure I'm ready to be fully GC at work in the way of Emma Hilton, Jo Phoenix, Rosa Freedman, and of course Kathleen Stock. But I do feel more confident to say "I don't like UCU's stance on gender-critical views". Let's see how brave I am in practice

OP posts:
Anothernamechangeplease · 28/07/2022 11:04

Can you just say something along the lines of "Thanks, but I'm not really interested in joining UCU because there are things that we don't see eye to eye on. However, I'm not really comfortable discussing the detail of that so I'd rather we didn't discuss it again"

Simple, polite, honest.

Anothernamechangeplease · 28/07/2022 11:06

Or even simpler: "thanks, I don't want to join ucu at the moment for personal reasons that I'd rather not discuss. Thanks for respecting that."

BurgerChops · 28/07/2022 11:44

You are, of course, absolutely right.

Last time we had a chat about UCU, I said I wasn't interested and he followed-up with asking why. I wasn't prepared for the 'why' question. This time I need to shut down the conversation before he asks the 'why' question. Your suggestions are excellent, thank you Smile

OP posts:
aridapricot · 29/07/2022 09:08

I know exactly how you feel OP. When I leave something or refrain to do something out of principle, I like to come clear about it, not just given an excuse or leave without saying anything. But at the same time I don't like confrontation so in practice what happens is that sometimes I make my feelings clear and sometimes I don't, based on pragmatism. I think in your case you would be very well justified in trying to avoid at all costs getting this person on your case. There are other ways in which you can support the gender-critical cause without creating a hell for you. Could you tell him you're in another union because it gives you a better deal (in accessing another kind of service for example - some unions do?). Or I wonder if now it is acceptable to voice disagreement with Grady's policies? You could say that you're concerned about losing thousands of £ to strikes without real gain.

ExUCU · 04/08/2022 14:36

Joining another trade union might be a great option. Here's a recent statement from Affinity:

"In the last two years we've dealt with an increasing number of cases where complainants of one persuasion or another have sought to silence people with whom they disagree, by making complaints to their employers. These complainants, sometimes anonymous and often incoherent, have argued that they have been offended in some way and that the individuals they disagree with should be dismissed. Most cases should have been kicked into touch early on but corporate cowardice has meant that disciplinary cases have followed.

(...)

Affinity is non-political and has no ideological stance, except our determination to fight discrimination of any sort wherever members experience it and defend free speech. Put simply, we believe in the rule of law.

Earlier this week, an Employment Tribunal published its Judgement on the case of Allison Bailey. Ms Bailey is a black, lesbian barrister who argued at the Employment Tribunal that she had been victimised and discriminated against by her employer, Garden Court Chambers, after she expressed gender critical beliefs.

(...)

Ms Bailey’s case is an important reminder that employers must respect the rights of staff to freedom of expression. We’ve dealt with a significant number of free speech at work cases and have found that all too often, the prevailing corporate culture is pro-political correctness to an extreme degree. This creates an immediate conflict between individuals’ rights to freedom of expression and the corporation’s (often just a junior manager’s) demand that they toe an ideologically pure line.

Senior managers are ultimately responsible and accountable for what happens in their organisations and they have to decide whether they’re going to defend the right to freedom of expression in their workplaces in cases where people are attacked unjustifiably for expressing views which are protected by law.

(...)

It’s stating the obvious to say that employers are in powerful positions relative to staff and, unless employees are represented by an effective trade union with a preparedness to fight for free speech, it’s often impossible for them to stand up for their rights. We find that employers start to behave far more reasonably the moment we become involved.

We’ve decided that we have an obligation to act in the interests of all our members, irrespective of the views they hold, and the best way of dealing with that is to focus on protecting their rights under the law, including their rights to free speech. We refuse to take a particular stance on political issues and remain neutral so that we can represent all members effectively. Our members can be certain that, whatever views they hold, we will always fight to protect their right to hold those views under the law.

The same cannot be said for those trade unions, which have aligned themselves with agendas that are in conflict with the views and interests of their members.

Because their unions proved unprepared to defend free speech, a significant number of members, most notably university academics, have joined us over the last two years."

This is a far cry from UCU. Sorry for the long post but having just seen Jo Grady's latest Dolores Umbridge style performance on twitter, I couldn't help myself.

BurgerChops · 04/08/2022 17:01

Thank you so much @ExUCU That's so incredibly helpful.

I will very seriously consider doing this, thank you.

The guy in question, the UCU local branch secretary has been busy retweeting, commenting and sharing this today. Absolutely terrifying. How can GC academics at my university expect fair representation when the local branch secretary is openly, publicly tweeting such absolute garbage?!

OP posts:
ExUCU · 05/08/2022 07:27

You’re very welcome!

Your colleague is entitled to his views. It’s useful for you to know what they are. UCU is very clear on its pro gender self-ID stance, and the GS regularly denounces GC views. You don’t have to be a member.

I joined Affinity because I did not not want to be in a union and I can honestly say that I like and support their values. I’d have to constantly hold my nose with UCU.

On a more personal level, I’d try to find allies at work, otherwise it will get quite lonely. But as you can see from this board, there are more of us than your UCU zealot colleague and his mates think!

UCU is on a recruitment drive, trying to increase its numbers to gear up for industrial action, not trying to listen to its GC members. Some hang on but IMO it’s a lost cause while Grady is GS.

GCAcademic · 06/08/2022 09:47

Thanks for this, @ExUCU

I left UCU a few years ago over their trans zealotry and joined GMB, but I've been looking to leave them ever since they denounced Mumsnet and, by implication, stated that they didn't give a shit about the rights of their female members. I'm going to cancel GMB and join Affinity.

Dancingwithhyenas · 10/08/2022 18:44

Be firm but vague for example “I’ve considered it and decided against it” then if he asks why “I don’t really want to go into it” and change the subject. Then if he keeps asking say “I don’t want to keep talking about this” etc

BurgerChops · 11/08/2022 08:22

Thank you @Mumsnut That's so interesting and definitely adds to my resolve to absolutely steer well clear of UCU 🙂

OP posts:
frustratedacademic · 11/08/2022 08:26

I just came on here to mention this latest news. Covered on GBN as well: twitter.com/gbnews/status/1557500452471709696?s=21&t=-K3Zaoqygl5EHC1gRambqg.

See also The Critic article about capture of Athena Swan scheme (thecritic.co.uk/the-subversion-of-athena-swan/). Is the tide turning? We can only hope.

ExUCU · 15/08/2022 04:38

Another news article that seems to imply that UCU academics managed to remove a gender-critical EDI adviser at the University of Sheffield from working on LGBT issues. What a sinister outfit!

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