Prof Jo Phoenix vs The OU - Employment Tribunal Thread 7

[ickky]

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

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

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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
NatS - Natalie Starkey, Outreach & Public Engagement Officer Sch Physical Sciences, 2019-22
HBC - Helen Bowes-Catton, Lecturer Social Research Methods
JD - John Domingue, Prof of Computing Science, Director KMi, 2015-22
LW - Louise Westmarland, Prof of Criminology, Co-Deputy Head SPC, 2018-21, Current Head SPC
RH - Richard Holliman, Prof Engaged Research, Head School Environment, Earth & Ecosystem Sciences, 2019-22. Member of Investigation Panel investigating the C’s grievance
DD - Dr Deborah Drake, Senior Lecturer Criminology, Head of SPC 2018-21😇
CT - Catherine Tomlinson, Senior Student Advisor
SD - Shaun Daley, Head OU’s Resourcing Hub. Head Strategic Resources, Co-Chair OU’s LGBT+ Staff Network
NS - Nicola Snarey, Assoc Lecturer Eng Language
CT - Cath Tomlinson, Senior Student Advisor
SJ - Samantha Jacobson, Employee Relations Case Manager

Witness for JP:

SE - Professor Sarah Earle, Head of the HWSRA

Tribunal Tweets - https://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)

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

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

Thread 4 https://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

Thread 6 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4921308-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-6

True.

L*ark and Emotional
*
Yes, basic professional practice. I got thrown under the bus by a director back in day because I didn't record a situation. Never made that mistake again.

Ben going through days allocated to JP in next ac year. JP allocated days to a module higher than person doing it before.

BC: You artificially boosted JPs days on x module cos you couldn't find anyone who would work with her on it.

DD: no

BC: email from Prof Scott to JP c who he wants on his team. 'In terms of people I'd prefer not to work with, Abi and Jo on list for obvious reasons.'

DD: Didn't ask why

BC: As HoD you don't ask about this? That wasn't an issue? Not impt to understand why?

DD: Didn't probe at time

BC: But you said v keen to keep people in dept happy

Imagine being Ben's husband and trying to get away with using up all the milk!

BC: cos you knew it would be c people in dept not wanting to work with JP re GC views

DD: wasn't thinking c that

I'm sure Ben will address the quality of DD's answers in submissions. 😉

Wow. Not an issue for DD if someone states they wouldn’t work with someone else and they obviously have an issue with another employee. BC sounds a bit incredulous.

did I just hear they had recruitment and retention issues?

Ask my son about the time he used up all the milk so I could have my morning cuppa. This is now a family legend. 😂

*couldn't have

Please do tell!

This story sounds intriguing/excellent, chilling! 😂

Who was Ben? You, or your son?

@chilling19 That's horrible, I'm sorry, I hope you are thriving now.

Honestly they all sound as mad as a bag of cats! What a toxic place to work. T & nb staff, students and their parents stamping their feet & throwing toys around. Endless hurty feels. Managers who just wanted a quiet life so placated them. Sod that

BC: Normally someone of claimant's experience would be invited to take part in recruitment

DD: Sometimes, sometimes not

BC: lists people recruited during the time. JP not invited to take part in the process.

DD is quick and on top of answers c why not. Remembers each person and exactly what process was followed for recruiting each of them and who was involved each time. Otherwise she says JP must have been on sick leave.

DD's recall of the details of exactly who was involved in interviewing etc the different new recruits years ago is extraordinarily good.

I was Ben. Even now he remembers that. I was grandchild sitting recently and couldn't find the milk. I texted him and he said 'do you think I would leave you without milk mum!' and then told me where it was (hidden In my view)l

BC: Did you read the RReport?

DD: I believe I read it when it came out.

J: didn't hear

DD: I believe I read it when it came out.

Copy and paste

Lark - oh yes am thriving after retiring from the academia shitshow 😂

To be fair to DD, I can distinctly remember the picture beside my peg in infants' school*, but I would have to think really hard to remember what I had for breakfast.

Old age does that to you.

*It was a white "cock-a-doodle doo" with black tail feathers.

Academic freedom is the WHOLE POINT.

I guess some people are more equal than others eh

I think there are quite a few of us about. We should form an escape committee!

BC: Where is your recognition of ac freedom?

DD: In that para there

BC: Yes, in the para that talks about hurt of t and nb in your dept. This is the attitude seen from you throughout correspondence. JP beliefs protected by ac freedom but she shouldn't be talking c them as she does cos causes hurt to people in your dept

Break until 3.15pm

log back in again.

TT commentary

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1714627176497098905.html