Prof Jo Phoenix vs The OU - Employment Tribunal Thread 8

[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
CT - Catherine Tomlinson, Senior Student Advisor
DD - Dr Deborah Drake, Senior Lecturer Criminology, Head of SPC 2018-21😇
SD - Shaun Daley, Head OU’s Resourcing Hub. Head Strategic Resources, Co-Chair OU’s LGBT+ Staff Network
SJ - Samantha Jacobson, Employee Relations Case Manager
NS - Nicola Snarey, Assoc Lecturer Eng Language - This witness did not give evidence.

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

Thread 7
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4922765-prof-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-thread-7

So wonderful to see you here Jo, been with you all the way. I am utterly in awe of your courage and resilience. Thank you for standing up for all of us 💐

I followed the tribunal on here and Tribunal Tweets with my jaw on the floor. So many echoes of what SEEN, the Civil Service gender critical staff network, is facing and going through. The hostility, the calls for the network to be shut down, the fear of members of being ostracised. I hope the judgement goes in your favour, Jo, as it will be such a support to others going through this. Building on Maya, Allison, Denise etc

Can I remind everyone that Jo is still almost £10K short of target and that Almut Gadow and Pilgrim Tucker need help in the garden.

GO JO!!!!!

The Forstater appeal judgement, to be precise.

Had Maya won at the first tribunal and CGD not appealed (a likely outcome because they may be looking to minimise costs, not prove a point), that would not have set the precedent that Bailey, Phoenix, etc are relying on.

So, whilst most of me is hoping that the panel see sense and rule for Jo because this ordeal has been awful for her and she deserves to have her life back, a small part of me wants it to go to appeal and for Jo to win the appeal and set binding precedent, because there's a lot of nervous academics out there who could breathe easier if that happened. I know that the small part of me is BVU because it's not Jo's responsibility to sort the law out for others.

I followed the Tribunal threads. The performance by the OU's witnesses was embarrassing - are these people really being paid for their shit-show? Best wishes to Jo in her struggle against defensive self-interest, lies, amnesia and warped vision. I was going to bring in the geraniums for winter, but it's too wet for that kind of gardening to be enjoyable. I'll sow a few seeds instead for Jo, Almut and Pilgrim.

Done that! Let's hope there's a good harvest.

Jo you are a star 🌟

Wonder which beach BC KC is on?

(also wonder if there is a KC KC?)

He wouldn't dare say.

It would be mobbed by a swarm of MNers waving bottles of sunscreen and beard wax, and offering to apply it.

Just because he is gay and in a relationship it doesn't mean that we wouldn't all want to show our appreciation in a practical way.

With cocktails

I wish there was a posh version of the Wetherspoons app so we could all send drinks to some swanky place for BC KC!

(Obviously it wouldn't go like this: https://www.thepoke.com/2018/02/12/free-drinks-wetherspoons-woman/ )

Hi all, what's the outcome of this case please can anyone update me? Thanks

The outcome will be a judgment handed down by the tribunal. However, I would expect that to be months away. Possibly before Christmas but more realistically after.

I notice that Pilgrim Tucker could still use a seed or two, if anybody has anything spare.

Can I just say how absolutely epic @JoPhoenix glasses are, I just love them.

Thank you. It is my one concession to vanity. The green and ice coloured ones (on picture for crowd justice) are
one of a kinds I had made for me. The blue ones and the red ones are from Cutler and Gross. The circular olive green ones are from Cubitts. If I win and if I receive any money, I may well treat myself to another bespoke pair. ❤️

I’m thinking spring. I don’t want a hasty judgment so I’m prepared to wait….

It would be nice if it didn't drag too far into the new year.
May I suggest WORIADS in tasteful cursive on the arm of your new pair? 😉

Finally made it to the end of the threads ... Just several weeks after everyone else!

Thanks everyone!

<offers @BlackeyedSusan a nice cup of tea and a sit down>

Biscuit?

We have Hob-Nobs.

Thanks!
<Slumps down>

On the plus side...I don't have as long to wait for the outcome...

Good luck Jo.

Update from JP's crowd justice page

Dear All
This is a quick email to express my huge gratitude for all the support and donations. I have closed this appeal. If you remember, the appeal was for the liabilities hearing.
Next steps:
We are waiting for the judgment. We do not have an approximate date, but I will let everyone know as soon as I know what the judgment is.
If the judgment goes our way and the Open University do not appeal (they will have 28 days in which to lodge their appeal), then the next step will be remedies.
If the judgment goes against us, we will have 28 days to lodge an appeal and then we wait for a date for the appeal hearing.
Either way, I am likely to open another crowdjustice fund appeal to support the next steps following the judgment.
It is impossible for me to convey the depth of my gratitude. Your generosity and kindness meant that we could present the best case possible and do so in a manner that did not leave my partner and me facing huge debts. You took a massive burden away from me. Every penny, every donation - it made a difference.
Thank you
Jo

You are more than welcome, Jo, and I'm happy to do some more gardening should the need arise. Lovely Spring blooms....

Jo, you are very welcome to my donation(s), and will be again in the future as necessary. You are brave, principled and really, really smart