Another tribunal (UCU this time)

[ifIwerenotanandroid]

Will this one be accessible online? I'm always the last to hear about this stuff so I thought I'd get in early this time (it's next month). I've just seen a tweet about it, but it's to do with crowdfunding, so I think I can't link to it. It's about bringing 'an employment tribunal claim against UCU for unlawfully discriminating against us because of our protected 'gender critical' beliefs':

'Scheduled screenings of our film have twice been cancelled by protestors at the University of Edinburgh. On both occasions the Edinburgh branch of the Universities and College Union (UCU) denounced the film as 'hate speech' and 'transphobic'. We are members of UCU and yet the union has treated us and the film as beyond the pale and unworthy of a place on campus. '

All info gratefully received.

For those looking for more information on this case, the crowd justice website might be useful. The people involved are Deirdre O'Neill and Michael Wayne.

This could be a VERY interesting case to watch for those of us who have developed a terminal disdain for the coterie of self-satisfied, vapid and craven pseudo-intellectuals that populate the upper echelons of UCU.

Some choice comments from those who have supported the case:

”I was a member 10 years ago; they’re a disgrace to the TU movement.”

”It is extremely authoritarian to stifle feminist debate by labelling it 'transphobic', and shocking that an academic union allowed this to happen.”

”As UCU member (retired) I'm appalled at the turn taken by the UCU against free speech, of Kathleen Stock etc. In strong support of your challenge.”

“As a former NATFHE branch secretary, I am shocked at what its successor, UCU, has turned into.”

”UCU has defamed, harassed and silenced gender critical scholars. It’s concerted attack on academic freedom and feminist inquiry makes academia a hostile environment for women.”

“This is what I'd normally pay for my UCU membership, which I've just cancelled.”

Quite cathartic, reading this …😌

From the relevant website:

We now have our preliminary hearing on March 26th 2024. The purpose of this hearing will be to identify the issues and set directions and a case timetable. At last UCU will have to account for their behaviour rather than sticking their fingers in their collective ears and screaming 'transphobe' at all and sundry.

That's a procedural hearing. I don't even know if it'll be open to the public. The substantive hearing with evidence and witnesses will be taking place after that. It's possible it might not even happen in 2024.

sorry to sound thick, but if they aren't the employer, how can they be taken to a tribunal?

You can make a claim to an employment tribunal if you think someone has treated you unlawfully, such as your employer, a potential employer or a trade union.

£15,315 so far. I wonder if the UCU will fold after the hearing in March.

Pretty clear there is no way they can win this based on previous cases, but they might hold on till they lose. Be a good win too as it can help trigger change in the entire university and trade union sector. Trade unions are a train wreck right now on gender.

I don’t think they’ll fold, no. Let’s see where this goes.

But not having a functioning union is terrible for our sector.

A lot of these cases are settled before court/tribunal now though because the lawyers know it is doomed. At least five cases like that last year.

February 2023 Raquel Rosario Sanchez vs Bristol Student Union
out of court settlement

June 2023 Claudia Clare vs University of the Arts London
out of court settlement apology paid damages

09/09/2023 Sibyl Ruth vs Cornerstones Literary agency
out of court settlement EAT apology substantial damages

Sept 2023 Cathy Boardman vs Brighton Institute of Modern Music
out of court settlement Employment Tribunal apology

11/12/2023 James Esses vs United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
out of court settlement apology

After the conclusive results from Rachel Meade and Jo Phoenix's cases which went to tribunal last month it is clear how courts and tribunals view this stuff.

UCU fighting on to a loss might be a better result for gender crits though in terms of impact.

Looking forward to this one!

Good for them! May have to see of they require some extra seed packets and pots ! The trade unions are a shambles! Women paying into these for years to be dismissed as "transphobic". They have lot their founding purpose .

It will be interesting to see how this one goes

Thanks for this, fromorbit. A long list.

I would certainly prefer a court case to a settlement, just to see the evidence. Remember when Jo Grady went on a Twitter deleting spree when she became general secretary? Some of her public musings were very unbecoming and downright mean. Imagine what she and those around her might be willing to say on email.

And i was just about to go outside and tidy up the latest wind blown rubbish from my garden but will have to do some indoor gardeniong first....

<fetches gardening tools>

I will be delighted to see the arseholes that are UCU being dragged through a tribunal. It couldn’t be better deserved after their plans to hunt down GC staff at universities.

I hope it goes to a full hearing and it’s available online, because I’ll book holiday to watch every fucking minute of it.

Yours, a pissed off academia bod.

Another thing about #Operationletthemspeak is that it's likely to make their positions less tenable, after their awful, stupid wibblings and behaviour are exposed to scrutiny.

Ah yes, the famous plot! I almost forgot. Apparently Grady conspired with some UCU branches to hound out ‘transphobes’, it was reported in the Times. Let’s see if I still have screenshots …

This could be a VERY interesting case to watch for those of us who have developed a terminal disdain for the coterie of self-satisfied, vapid and craven pseudo-intellectuals that populate the upper echelons of UCU.

What a sentence. Also very much agree.

@Meanacademic this one?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hard-left-academics-plotted-gender-id-witch-hunt-on-colleagues-fdqnq5cb9

(Sorry for the non-share token version, I can’t get that to work on my phone)

The archived version

https://archive.is/bhtDp

I've done a little bit of digging.

Go get em, team.

Would be great for Jo Grady and some of her misogynistic acolytes to get the Ben Cooper or Naomi Cunningham treatment.

I would certainly prefer a court case to a settlement, just to see the evidence.

And also because they provide so much unintentional hilarity.

Useful list from fromorbit - I wasn't aware of all of those.

Ah, the MN hive mind, ever resourceful 🤗

thanks for the links, Boiledbeetle and SidewaysOtter!

Reading through this, I’m just reminded how fucking bonkers the UCU leadership are. Joe McCarthy has nothing on them. Please, please, let this go to tribunal …

They're also arrogant enough not to settle.