Dear Stop the Boycott subscriber,
It has now emerged that UCU had several boycott motions submitted to its 2009 Congress. These motions, together with some motions on other topics, were not published in the initial order paper on the basis of the union's legal advice. The National Executive Committee (NEC) was due to decide on the admissibility of these motions given the legal issues.
Unexpectedly, a few hours before the NEC meeting last week, the Union's Strategy and Finance Committee encouraged the NEC to allow the motions. However, it also suggested that the NEC should not read the Union's legal advice on this issue.
At the meeting, the NEC voted to voluntarily not read the Union's legal advice. They then voted to accept the boycott motions for debate at the Annual Congress.
The three boycott motions are much more explicit and extreme in their call for a boycott than last year's UCU motion:
These are in addition to four other anti-Israel motions previously published. There are no other motions on international situations on the current agenda. These motions will be debated at UCU Congress from 27-29 May.
Commenting on these developments Lorna Fitzsimons, joint head of Stop the Boycott, said:
"It simply beggars belief that the National Executive Committee of the only Trade Union for Further and Higher Education in Britain has voted not to see its (very expensive) legal advice which tells it that what it is about to do is illegal. It is extraordinary that such a potentially important union seems unable to grasp the concept that the rest of the world, lead by President Obama, is trying to build bridges and make peace whilst they continually attempt to isolate, alienate and polarise the Israeli educational establishment. Anybody who has had any involvement with Israel's academia will know of their historic role in Israel's constant attempt to strive for peace."
Jeremy Newmark, joint head of Stop the Boycott said:
"Whether you are a Trade Unionist wanting a powerful union or whether you are a long standing campaigner for peace, it is clear that the UCU has taken leave of its senses. These motions show that the UCU is more bent on small minded retribution than in really making a difference. There is the potential for this union to play a remarkable role at this hugely crucial time. If the UCU was a serious union representing their members they would be working to involve Israelis and Palestinians in each other's destiny."
It has now emerged that UCU had several boycott motions submitted to its 2009 Congress. These motions, together with some motions on other topics, were not published in the initial order paper on the basis of the union's legal advice. The National Executive Committee (NEC) was due to decide on the admissibility of these motions given the legal issues.
Unexpectedly, a few hours before the NEC meeting last week, the Union's Strategy and Finance Committee encouraged the NEC to allow the motions. However, it also suggested that the NEC should not read the Union's legal advice on this issue.
At the meeting, the NEC voted to voluntarily not read the Union's legal advice. They then voted to accept the boycott motions for debate at the Annual Congress.
The three boycott motions are much more explicit and extreme in their call for a boycott than last year's UCU motion:
- They commit UCU to support "the Palestinian call for Boycott, divestment and sanctions".
- They restate last year's "call to members to reflect on the moral and political appropriateness of collaboration with Israeli educational institutions."
- They force UCU to "host an autumn 2009 international, inter-union conference of boycott supporters to investigate the implementation of the strategy, including an option of institutional boycott."
These are in addition to four other anti-Israel motions previously published. There are no other motions on international situations on the current agenda. These motions will be debated at UCU Congress from 27-29 May.
Commenting on these developments Lorna Fitzsimons, joint head of Stop the Boycott, said:
"It simply beggars belief that the National Executive Committee of the only Trade Union for Further and Higher Education in Britain has voted not to see its (very expensive) legal advice which tells it that what it is about to do is illegal. It is extraordinary that such a potentially important union seems unable to grasp the concept that the rest of the world, lead by President Obama, is trying to build bridges and make peace whilst they continually attempt to isolate, alienate and polarise the Israeli educational establishment. Anybody who has had any involvement with Israel's academia will know of their historic role in Israel's constant attempt to strive for peace."
Jeremy Newmark, joint head of Stop the Boycott said:
"Whether you are a Trade Unionist wanting a powerful union or whether you are a long standing campaigner for peace, it is clear that the UCU has taken leave of its senses. These motions show that the UCU is more bent on small minded retribution than in really making a difference. There is the potential for this union to play a remarkable role at this hugely crucial time. If the UCU was a serious union representing their members they would be working to involve Israelis and Palestinians in each other's destiny."
