Prof Jo Phoenix vs The OU - Employment Tribunal Thread 4

[ickky]

Started on 2nd October at Watford Employment Tribunal (Radius House, 51 Clarendon Rd, Watford WD17 1HP 01923 281750)

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Header should read

URGENT CURRENT CASE - Public Access Request - J Phoenix - The Open University - 3322700/2021

Ask for access link and pin and please give your name and address in the email as they check when you connect to the tribunal.

The clerk will ask you (in a private remote room) to put your camera on to verify, this involves looking at you, but no ID is needed. You may turn off your camera after this pointless and unnecessary process.

Abbreviations

JP - Jo Phoenix, Claimant (C)
OU - The Open University, Respondent (R)
J - Regional Employment Judge Young
P - Panel or panel member
BC - Ben Cooper KC, Counsel for C
JM - Jane Mulcahy KC, Counsel for R

OU Departments & Networks:

HWSRA - Health & Wellbeing Strategic Research Area
FASS - Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
SPC - Dept of Social Policy & Criminology
KMi - Knowledge Media Institute
GCRN - Gender Critical Research Network

OU witnesses

PB - Dr Paraskevi Boukli, Former Senior Lecturer Criminology, Deputy Head SPC 2021-22
IF - Prof Ian Fribbance Dean of FASS
MW - Prof Marcia Wilson, Dean EDI, 2020-23
CM - Caragh Molloy, Group People Director 2019-23
LD - Dr Leigh Downes, Senior Lecturer in Criminology (in SPC), Academic Lead for EDI FASS 2019-21
DD - Dr Deborah Drake, Senior Lecturer Criminology, Head of SPC 2018-21
CT - Catherine Tomlinson, Senior Student Advisor
LW - Louise Westmarland, Prof of Criminology, Co-Deputy Head SPC, 2018-21, Current Head SPC
JD - John Domingue, Prof of Computing Science, Director KMi, 2015-22
PK - Peter Keogh, Professor Health & Society, Member RSSH
CW - Dr Christopher Williams, Senior Lecturer History
SD - Shaun Daley, Head OU’s Resourcing Hub. Head Strategic Resources, Co-Chair OU’s LGBT+ Staff Network
HBC - Helen Bowes-Catton, Lecturer Social Research Methods
NS - Nicola Snarey, Assoc Lecturer Eng Language
NatS - Natalie Starkey, Outreach & Public Engagement Officer Sch Physical Sciences, 2019-22
CT - Cath Tomlinson, Senior Student Advisor
SJ - Samantha Jacobson, Employee Relations Case Manager
RH - Richard Holliman, Prof Engaged Research, Head School Environment, Earth & Ecosystem Sciences, 2019-22. Member of Investigation Panel investigating the C’s grievance

Witness for JP:

SE - Sarah Earle, Professor Modern History Uni of Oxford, Founding member GCRN

Tribunal Tweets - https://twitter.com/tribunaltweets

TT coverage so far https://tribunaltweets.substack.com/p/professor-jo-phoenix-v-the-open-university

Thread 1 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4905118-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-2nd-october-whispers-ben-cooper?page=1

Thread 2 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4913946-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-2?page=1

Thread 3 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4917480-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-3

Also not happy with 18 witnesses and a five and a half thousand page bundle and the amount of work that takes, and therefore has not yet had a chance to even prepare his closing submission, so if Judge wants a Tuesday deadline for witnesses and a Wednesday closing submission then it ain't happening. He's not spent any time with his family for a month, so feeling the pressure to complete. Ambitious to complete a case of this scale in the time allotted, but need to serve the interests of justice, which is not served by working the counsel to the point they can't put their clients case.

Wow he's really not happy, poor BC.

I am surprised, BC does not usually do this, must be huge pressure. All the faffing about using up time with scheduling etc. So unnecessary.

Oh, I want to send him a hug and a tunnocks.

Ben is really croaky

De lurking to say it doesn't seem fair to put Ben under a time pressure when the witnesses don't answer properly and just waffle.

& Thanks for the threads, very informative.

Hi, I'm sure she will see your post and be looking in. Nuff said.😉

I have never heard such a long speech by BC. This to judge (it's not all he said):

BC: It's in the nature of a case where other party call 18 witnesses, 5,500 pp bundle. I have to keep on top of all this as I go. Haven't yet had a change to make start on closing submissions and won't be able to make J's timetable. BC said I don't often do this - but counsel have a right to an okay work level. I have not spent any time with my family for c a month. I would find it v difficult to have pressure put on me to complete all witnesses and straight into submissions - need to do right job by my client. It was always hopeful to get through bundle and no. of witnesses in time allocated. We need to serve interests of justice - not done by working counsel to state of not being able to do justice to client or case. We could allot future days for J to consider the evidence.

Pls don't impose an absolute cut off of Tuesday. Pls tell me to move on with witnesses if you think I should. Pls give us time to write something that will really help you - instead of working ourselves to the bone.

Why doesn't JM have a decent microphone

Massive hugs to Ben and his family.

I was at the launch of the Sex and Gender book and there was much love there for Jo

JM to Judge, you will have to make an order to disclose outcome of the other grievances

both grievances not upheld.

Checking in in-between lecture prep. Thank you Jo for doing this. I am studying in a Russell group uni and the capture here is astonishing, more so because I am in an allied health profession. This is giving me courage to raise my head above the parapet when the next but if bat shittery occurs.

With the other grievances, how will that help, and why aren't they just disclosing? (Would that be because of NDAs?)

Sounds like there were three grievances, two of which were from one person. JM explaining what happened, it's all a bit complex with outcomes and appeals.

FFS another short break

Short break while the Panel goes and discusses all the issues raised this morning. Back at 10.35am.

All this time wasting, late starts even when scheduled to be early.

Man alive, and the J wonders why the timeline is out of whack.

Well that's just made my year!

Court hasn't emptied, cameras and microphones still on.

BC - popping a Strepcil. His throat does sound bad.

It does, he needs a hot toddy.

Thanks @ickky Goodo Ben, refusing to be silenced on behalf of his client. I hope the judge makes an order for the other grievances since OU won't disclose.

Two thoughts.
Case might have to be adjourned next week pending more days being allocated and grievances disclosed etc.

Ben's letting judge know that justice needs to be seen to be done here. He's laying the way for possible appeal if this is an attempt to rush him.

Carrot anyone?

Nice to see the OU legal team being supportive of BC