Prof Jo Phoenix vs The OU - Employment Tribunal Thread 6

[ickky]

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

You may attend in person or remote viewing has been quite limited but you can request log in details from

Email [email protected]
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
PK - Peter Keogh, Professor Health & Society, Member RSSH
CW - Dr Christopher Williams, Senior Lecturer History
KS - Kevin Shakesheff. PVC for Research and Innovation
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
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 - twitter.com/tribunaltweets

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

Prof Jo Phoenix Witness Statement (scroll to bottom of page and download)

jophoenix.substack.com/p/phoenix-v-open-university?sd=pf

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

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

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

Thread 4 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4918479-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-4

Thread 5 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4919223-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-5

Hi said at Filia she was hoping for judgment by Xmas

Jo not hi

Thanks!

Morning all. Had a meeting unexpectedly cancelled for this morning so hoping that DD will be up first so I can listen in.

Morning everybody.

My name is Jo Phoenix. I am Professor of Criminology at the Open University.
I am bringing an employment tribunal claim to hold the OU to account for the public campaign of harassment that has made my working life unbearable, and I really need your support.
My hope is that this case will force universities to protect female academics from the vicious bullying perpetrated by those who disagree with our beliefs on sex and gender; bullying that is designed to silence us and our research.

Her former colleagues, under cross examination, so far, seem to be supporting Jo's contentions above. They appear to have actively campaigned against her, failed to support her, in one case a senior manager did not even read her grievance. She has been misrepresented and isolated by other former colleagues. Collectively they are managing to demonstrate the hostile, and often incompetent environment, in whch she worked,

I’ve had a look at the crowd funder, and I’ve noticed that most people are giving their names in the donations. When I first planted a small carrot for Allison and Maya I’d say most donations were anonymous. I’m thinking this is another indication of sea change amongst the public.

Courage calls hey? Lovely to see.

Also there has been a notable lack of shenanigans in the remote room, no (She/Her) after their names and no not so subtle digs in the usernames.

Good to see we are starting on time today (not)

The remote room good behaviour may also be due to the smaller numbers and the stricter clerking.

Apparently the Judge has not yet arrived at the court. 🙄

The forensic discussion on the timetable, seems to have been a complete waste of time!

We're in!

This case seems to have been a bit of a learning curve for the judge...

Cath Tomlinson, one of the remaining witnesses, has Covid. JM has agreed with BC that they will make submissions as the evidence is regarding one tweet. Judge asking whether a remote connection would be feasible as they still may want to ask questions so will revisit at lunchtime.

DD later today and will probably go over until tomorrow.

Indeed.

Who has Covid? I missed the name of the witness.

Cath Tomlinson probably not giving evidence, she has covid and only 1 retweet to examine, Judge said to see if they can attend remotely if necessary.

Ah yes I think I'd have covid too if I were a witness

JM seems to be good, in a quiet sort of way, of just wasting time over and over. We have just watched her moving stuff over her desk ... and finally J says do you want to call the witness.

JD - John Domingue, Prof of Computing Science, Director KMi, 2015-22 To start

They were the ones who didn't want to host the GC Network.

Good call from Judge re potentially remote interviewing. i.e you arent getting off with being a witness by claiming covid.

Justin's being strict!

Ah yes this is a witness I'm interested in - the one who was warned that they either host the GCRN or host no networks

Witness comes in and says 'I'm not used to using paper'

[What a card, eh.]

JOHN BRUNO GERARD DESIRE DEMINGUE

BC still croaky