Kathleen Stock’s union betrays her.

[MangoSeason]

Pathetic. Weak. Craven.

twitter.com/Docstockk/status/1447863827018702855?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

[thecatfromjapan]

This is cheering. Letter in support from fellow U.K. philosophers:

twitter.com/mary_leng/status/1447841274422349826?s=12

[secular111]

On a related subject, it might be best if the University of Sussex perhaps considers a rebrand as a polytechnic.

I did consider that 'Technical College' would be better, but I think there's a general distrust of science embedded there.

A Religious Seminary might also suit it better.

'Cos as University its pretty much a laughing stock (sic) now!

[LiteralViolins]

I left UCU a couple of years ago when it became blindingly obvious to me that they would not only not support me, but would actively work against my interests / rights as a GC academic. They are an utter disgrace.

As an aside, the only member of my dept still an active member of UCU is the most craven, sly, narcissistic, two-faced, work-shy person I've ever known who happily throws colleagues under buses whenever they get the chance. I'm sure that's just a coincidence though.

[AlfonsoTheDinosaur]

UCU has been working with management and not with members for a long time.

[LiteralViolins]

@secular111

On a related subject, it might be best if the University of Sussex perhaps considers a rebrand as a polytechnic.

I did consider that 'Technical College' would be better, but I think there's a general distrust of science embedded there.

A Religious Seminary might also suit it better.

'Cos as University its pretty much a laughing stock (sic) now!

I watched that last night and allowed myself a big fuck off belly laugh wry smile.

[GCAcademic]

[quote thecatfromjapan]This is cheering. Letter in support from fellow U.K. philosophers:

twitter.com/mary_leng/status/1447841274422349826?s=12[/quote]
I'm delighted to see that there are several signatories there from the Philosophy department at my university, none of whom have ever put their head above the parapet on these issues before. The person in that department I know to be a Grade A misogynist tosser has not signed it, unsurprisingly.

[PronounssheRa]

mobile.twitter.com/ucu/status/1447922700723306508

UCU statement. Condemns the abuse UCU Sussex is getting, silent on naming Kathleen and the abuse she has been subject to

[Tesla73]

Kellie-Jay Keen very angry on this and has given some ideas on making a huge noise over this and mentioning Sanjeev Bhaskar but can't imagine he will step up and make any comment as he'll be thinking about his career and image

[ScreamingMeMesaur]

Posie and Kathleen don't see eye-to-eye, but Posie will still fight Kathleen's corner. That's integrity.

[Tesla73]

Very true - huge fan of Posie and her passion and anger

[ScreamingMeMesaur]

"UCU has a long history (from predecessor unions) of enabling members to self-identify whether that is being black, disabled, LGBT+ or women." Read their doc yourself

www.ucu.org.uk/media/10565/UCUs-position-on-Trans-inclusion/doc/Trans_inclusion_November_2019.doc

I wonder what their black and disabled students think about that.

[RoyalCorgi]

Why does the union exist if it can't condemn the harassment and threats against an academic? What's the point?

[Tesla73]

Good to see that in such a short space of time this is being picked up by the right people and solidarity being shown

suzannemoore.substack.com/p/they-have-come-for-kathleen-stock?r=hul36&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email&utm_source=

waronwomen.substack.com/p/sussex-ucu?r=hul36&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email&utm_source=

I know GB News have been covering this too so hopefully this will be a big story for them tonight

[FlyingOink]

Wow Suzanne Moore's piece is powerful

[Abhannmor]

More of a Cosa Nostra than a real union. Or a sort of Sharia militia policing women.

[girafferafferaffe]

What is the world coming to. I am genuinely concerned

[viques]

Just read my “letter from Suzanne” , knew there would be a thread on here so came to register my anger that a trades union could behave in such a cowardly manner. I have been a trades union member for all my working life, and always believed that they stood for supporting their members against unfairness and injustice , not for bowing down to loud and shouty voices. I knew the Labour Party had abandoned rational thought, it’s a sad day today to learn that they are taking unions with them.

Every time we seem to be taking a few steps out of this madness we are pushed back, but as Suzanne says, women have faced bigger and nastier struggles in the past, and triumphed, and we will prevail. But I am so angry on behalf of the people who are being hurt and vilified on our behalf along the way.

[CorrBlimeyGG]

A union taking a stand against transphobia is a good thing, no? No one here condones transphobia, do they?

[WeeBisom]

Corblimey: If we are being honest, the subtext to this message is that Kathleen stock is transphobic and she will not be supported by the union. The students are right to protest her. Even if we are being charitable and assuming the statement is a good faith endorsement against transphobia , this is a strange time to make that statement. A member of staff is very publicly being harassed and having her academic freedom threatened- what does transphobia have to do with anything? Surely a better statement would be to reiterate that academics have full academic freedom. Like.. a statement against transphobia is nice and all but how does it help professor stock? What’s your interpretation of what is going on?

[prudencepuffin]

I think this is a flashpoint and Posy is right that if it goes through, it will affect what anyone is allowed to say or teach at any university in the future. If they can railroad Professor Stock - they can railroad anyone. The people involved in this campaign need seeking out and charging with criminal offences. It is NOT OK to try to terrorise people and force them out of their jobs - why does this even need saying.

[CatsOperatingInGangs]

Ignore the ploppers, people.

[Yepnothatfeeling]

I don't think anyone on here condones transphobia. Stating that sex is immutable is not transphobic, it's a basic fact of life.

Love that letter from philosophers around the UK - really good news.

[OldCrone]

@CorrBlimeyGG

A union taking a stand against transphobia is a good thing, no? No one here condones transphobia, do they?

What do you mean by transphobia?

What has Kathleen Stock done or said which is transphobic?

[ChristinaXYZ]

@CorrBlimeyGG

A union taking a stand against transphobia is a good thing, no? No one here condones transphobia, do they?

We're talking about women's rights here and the fact a woman has been libelled as a transphobe and the fact her union back the liars and think employment law and freedom of speech are not part of their remit.

So as no-one here is talking about anything else and as no-one has said anything remotely transphobic there is no need for you to have brought up your question - unless of course you are trying to libel Kathleen Stock by implication? Is that what you're doing? If so have the guts to come out and say it - go on - under your own name!

I'll gladly contribute to the funding if Stock then choses to sue you.

And even if you are so cowardly as to chose to insinuate lies under a pen-name then remember a good lawyer could get a court to get Mumsnet to say who you are if you are sued. It has happened with other social media. Jean Hatchett won a goodly wack of money over defamation recently.

There is nothing transphobia here or in anything Kathleen Stock has written or said. If you have not the guts and the conviction to come out and say what you mean then zip it and buzz off.

[lionheart]

UCU (National) as expected.