Are Women To Blame For 'Woke' Workplaces?

[UtopiaPlanitia]

Tanya de Grunwald did a live podcast on this topic at the Battle of Ideas - I thought giving the episode a thread of its own would be useful for future FWR search and archive purposes.

I'm listening to it now and I'm finding it very interesting - the podcast bros who have taken this idea as their new mantra are definitely being incredibly shallow and sexist in their 'analysis' of women in the workplace (but we knew that).

Are women at the forefront for driving institutional change to end misogyny and protect minority rights In the workplace?.

Yes, and all power to them.

This is just more 'have women's rights gone too far' misogyny.

All part of trying to pit vulnerable groups against each other. Most cis women stand up for trans people against a common enemy, knowing that we'll be next if we give an inch.

Respect in the workplace costs absolutely nothing, and harms no one.

So let's see a bit of respect for women who don't want to get changed in front of a man.

Let's see a bit of respect for women who don't want to discuss their rape with, or in the presence of, a man, and for the rape counsel staff who support them in that.

Let's see a bit of respect for female athletes who know that the winner is pretty much a foregone conclusion because there's a man in their competition.

Since, as you say, respect costs absolutely nothing and harms no-one.

Absolutely!

Really? Woke seems to involve slurring people who disagree with whatever is this week's good cause (trans ideology, pro-Palestinianism etc) and threatening to rape, cancel, burn or otherwise harm them. Not treating people well and not very inclusive, either.

Transwomen are men and have nothing to do with women's rights.

By this logic Bindel is 'woke' then? Huh?

https://x.com/socfemoz/status/2113479676840890583?s=20

I think this is on the right track.

To some extent I think men and women tend to run parallel power hierarchies.

Sometimes they also have a mixed hierarchy, sometimes not, depending on the society. But I think there is always also a male one and a female one. And the things that men and women do to advance in that hierarchy are not the same.

For women, a big part seems to be to embody social values, whether they are conservative, or whether they are meant to be rebellious or edgy. And also showing virtue, whatever that means for them.

And in terms of power struggles within that hierarchy, one way to do it is by tearing others down by showing them not to be virtuous, or not embodying the right values, and by creating social rejection from the group.

And religion can be used that way, or the idea of being cool, or progressive social justice.

Depends what you mean by "woke" as it's a very vague and generic term.

Presuming it's a left/right thing according to graphs on social media how certain demographics currently vote, if only women under 40 voted the Greens would be in power and if only men over 50 voted Reform would be in power. So, go figure.

I agree about the misogynistic gay men. But the problem in my experience is there is never a shortage of straight white women who will do anything to befriend these men.

The strength in trade union has always been the unity of different oppressed groups & doing their best to cater for all their needs

No. This is what trade unions have become after they won all the big employment battles and then got bored of the dullness of upholding employment rights. But actually, the purpose and strength of unions was always upholding their member’s interests. That is what they are for. They’ve weakened themselves by diversifying into being social justice warriors for whatever is the latest popular leftist cause.

They are an embarrassing shambles now of not very bright progressive activists. No wonder union membership is dropping. If unions slowly died out they would only have themselves to blame.

Woke is now so wide ranging that it's a meaningless term. But obviously it's been led by and pushed by women and HR, to state anything else is ridiculous. The fact that it's been co-opted and misused is a different argument.

Rly?

Secured Historic Legal Rights (Employment Rights Bill)
Unions like UNISON have hailed recent legislative breakthroughs as a "bright new era" for workers. Key victories now transitioning into law include: 1]

• Day-one protections: Eliminating waiting periods for statutory sick pay and providing immediate rights to parental leave.
• Ending exploitative practices: Severely curbing zero-hours contracts and banning unscrupulous "fire and rehire" tactics.
• Unfair dismissal protections: Strengthening legal safeguards against unfair sackings from the very first day of employment.
• Industrial action protection: Establishing strict new prohibitions against employers penalizing or causing detriment to workers who take part in lawful strikes. 1, 2, 3, 4]

Expanded Workplace Access and Recognition
Unions have won significant structural reforms that make it much easier to recruit, organize, and represent staff: 1]

• Physical and digital workplace access: New rules give independent unions a statutory process to access workplaces (both physically and through internal digital systems) to communicate with and support workers. 1, 2]
• Lower recognition thresholds: The "likely majority" test has been removed. Unions no longer have to prove a majority of the workforce supports them before launching an official recognition application. 1, 2]
• Expanding into tech and finance: This lower barrier has allowed unions like Unite and FDA to push into previously non-traditional spaces, launching fresh recognition bids at tech startups, maritime companies, and the Financial Conduct Authority. 1]

Delivered a Growing "Union Wage Premium"

• Higher pay rates: According to TUC data, the union "wage premium"—the pay gap showing how much more union members earn compared to non-unionized peers—grew to 5.3%. 1]
• Aggressive pay campaigns: Civil service and public sector unions have actively staged strikes and intensive negotiations to demand up to 10% pay rises, better pensions, and localized minimum wage guarantees. 1, 2]

Brought Back Workplace Upskilling

• Union Learning Fund: The trade union movement successfully campaigned for the re-establishment of the Union Learning Fund. This initiative funds union representatives and stewards to directly provide skills training, education, and career development to their colleagues on the shop floor. 1]