Kathleen Stock’s union betrays her.

[MangoSeason]

Pathetic. Weak. Craven.

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

[secular111]

@Artichokeleaves

The 'dump vague allegations and run in the hope of casting some doubt on the rather ugly facts' thing is about as over as 'no debate'.

I'm sure CorrBlimeyGG has squirreled their copy of Material Girls into a corner and is frantically searching for it right now. Or purchased the Kindle version and has mislaid the Kindle.

I am reminded though that when people who accuse JKR of being transphobic are asked to provide any evidence of any words, said-or-written that could be deemed transphobic, the best you'll get is an essay featuring clownfish written by K. Montgomery.

[CrimpityCrimpity]

Glorious!

[LooksGood]

So - asked in academic common room too, but it's a quiet spot - do we have any alternative to UCU?

I think I'd be happier even in another unsatisfactory union. At least they wouldn't be claiming to represent my profession or opining so directly on our working conditions.

[ChristinaXYZ]

@LooksGood

So - asked in academic common room too, but it's a quiet spot - do we have any alternative to UCU?

I think I'd be happier even in another unsatisfactory union. At least they wouldn't be claiming to represent my profession or opining so directly on our working conditions.

Jo Bartosch making the same point here twitter.com/jo_bartosch/status/1447866429156495361

and repeating part of what I said earlier because the thread is getting long:

...think about who you pay union subs to and whether you really like their politics on women and whether you can trust them.

If we don't like the politics of our unions then we should stop paying our subs. Many of the TUC related ones seem very male and have been slow to protect women.

Alternatives to standard captured unions include:

Affinity

workaffinity.co.uk/

"Affinity represents thousands of people working in a wide range of industries including banking and finance, accountancy, retail, manufacturing, education, the law, hospitality and travel and tourism. Its members include teachers, bank staff, IT consultants, financial advisers, academics, local government staff, lawyers and civil servants.

"Currently in its centenary year, Affinity is different to most trade unions in that it has no party political affiliations, is not a member of the Trades Union Congress and has no ties to the employers it deals with, leaving it free to protect the rights and interests of its members without fear or favour."

There is also the Workers of England Union

workersofengland.co.uk

If you're a member of the Free Speech Union (mentioned by Jo Bartosch above) then there are discount offers for joining the above - you should check your membership emails. freespeechunion.org/

For teachers there is also Edapt which is legal cover and employment advice - they're not strictly speaking a union.

www.edapt.org.uk/

[LooksGood]

Thank you @ChristinaXYZ I'll email our union rep (whom I like and respect very much) and tell her I'm - at least - taking a sabbatical from UCU over this issue. Realise there's a difference since university won't negotiate directly with other groups, but no, I'm not willing to fund this bullying and stupidity. Thanks very much indeed - may try Affinity.

[ChattyLion]

This is appalling and irresponsible and inciting people to think Prof Stock has been spreading transphobia which is a lie.

Time for a new union.
Yes.

[LooksGood]

@ChattyLion

This is appalling and irresponsible and inciting people to think Prof Stock has been spreading transphobia which is a lie.

Time for a new union.
Yes.

Takes a minute to cancel UCU membership online - chose Resigned - Dissatisfied.

What a shame. But told union rep why, have rest of month to sort out alternative, and no harm sending the message today.

Here's the link in case anyone needs it.

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

[ChattyLion]

Just reposting the link posted upthread by Tesla to Posie’s video on this issue for anyone who hasn’t RTFT:

Well worth watching.
I agree with Posie the intimidation and harassment of Professor Stock purely for having opinions and referring to objective facts should be treated as domestic terrorism.

[RoseAndGeranium]

Doing it now. Enough is enough.

[LooksGood]

@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!

PS

Realise it's light hearted, but would you think about laying off the Polytechnics - ex or otherwise - please. Bad enough that we effectively lack a union - can still respect and support one another I hope.

[newrubylane]

@RoseAndGeranium

Someone may already have said this, but what incenses me about this shitty statement is that it implicitly endorses the idea that Stock and her ideas are transphobic. There’s a grudging acknowledgment that she shouldn’t face bullying or calls for summary dismissal but no suggestion that the union recognises that a) the belief that biological sex is real and matters is legally protected, b) there are diverse opinions on what constitutes transphobia, including in the trans community, c) that Stock has only ever expressed her views in a careful and respectful way. Basically it reads like a full-throated endorsement of the TRA reasons for wanting Stock out whilst paying lip service to the idea that they’re going about getting her sacked the wrong way. It stinks to high heaven.

It's also implicitly linking Stock with 'institutional transphobia', which reads to me as an attempt to blackmail the university into submission.

[KittenKong]

Slightly off topic - it if you want a good laugh watch this weeks University Challenge... I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time.

Silent person - pirate - flowered shirt guy - Jesus (!!).

[FemaleAndLearning]

I'm so upset for Kathleen. The lies that spread and noone naming her supposed transphobic is so cowardly.
I'm half way through her book Material Girls and haven't seen anything transphobic. She is thoughtful and compassionate and would respect a person's preferred pronouns. I can only imagine what her life is like just now. Transactivists are like abusive men in relationships. They just keep chipping away and will continue to do so until women are back in their place, but not on our watch.

[SeeYouUCU]

NCed for this.

I just quit UCU. Academic freedom is not dispensible.

[LooksGood]

On a slightly brighter note - Guardian coverage seemed quite fair and sane. No bizarre disclaimers and the implication that it's UCU that owes an explanation ...

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/oct/12/professor-says-career-effectively-ended-by-unions-transphobia-claims

Those TRA protests at their office don't seem to have them in sackcloth and ashes just yet

[LooksGood]

@SeeYouUCU

NCed for this.

I just quit UCU. Academic freedom is not dispensible.

Well done. I don't see how else they'll listen, but even if they don't listen - can't stay.

Was a sad moment - their clunky pink 90s site brings back memories of my academic youth. Hope I can rejoin some time. my.ucu.org.uk/app/membership/cancel_membership

[OperationDessertStorm]

I note that the Guardian don’t make any reference to Dr Stock being a Lesbian. Normally I’d agree that it’s nobody’s business, but this feels more like they’ve censored it out.

[Maskless]

There are no words to describe how livid I am about the trashing of a female university professor.

[Theeyeballsinthesky]

There seems to be something wrong with Dr Stock’s twitter. Idk if she’s left or been suspended :/

[LooksGood]

Kathleen Stock's twitter account no longer exists

[Theeyeballsinthesky]

Awwwww I can’t say I’m surprised- she’s under unbelievable pressure. Fuck me they are utter utter bastards!!!!

[UCUNoMore]

Name-changed for this.

I’ve also left UCU over this today. There are quite a few of us, I reckon.

[BewaretheIckabog]

Twitter says she is now on leave and apologises to her students?

[Alekto]

Poor Prof Stock. How harrowing this must be. And what a chilling effect this will have on other GC people there. Abhorrent.

Does anyone know if it's true that Grace Lavery did a Master's at Sussex Uni?

[girafferafferaffe]

There is something so fucked up about this witch hunting. I wish there could be something done about it. I'm sure there are lots of people like me who are terrified to speak out at work even though concerning things are happening. It must be awful for her