Campaign Update 5
12th July 2007
Poll of UCU members
A Populus poll of UCU members, commissioned by the Fair Play Campaign Group for this campaign, was published this week. 500 regular UCU members were polled at 200 institutions, both universities and Further Education colleges. It includes a number of key findings:
- 75% of UCU members of those who have an opinion on the issue oppose a boycott.
- 81% of members believe that a ballot of all UCU members is the best way to make a decision on a boycott.
- 87% of members would support such a membership ballot if Sally Hunt called one.
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Donate to Stop the Boycott
The Stop the Boycott campaign needs your support. We are supported by donations which we need to support the activities of the campaign. We still have much to do, and as we move towards the new academic term, we will be running and coordinating activity across the United Kingdom. The Stop the Boycott Campaign is not a charity, and without your support we will simply be unable to effectively fight boycotts of Israel in academia and trade unions.
You can safely donate right now over the Internet by clicking on this secure link: CLICK HERE
Alternatively, you can send a cheque payable to "JAC limited" to STB Campaign c/o Jewish Activities Committee Ltd, 6 Bloomsbury Square, London WC1A 2LP
Thank you in advance for your help.
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Public meetings
Manchester meeting
- An anti-boycott event was hosted in Manchester by the ZCC.
- About 200 people attended.
- Speakers included Lorna Fitzsimons from BICOM on behalf of the Stop the Boycott Campaign, Doreen Gerson of Trade Union Friends of Israel, Richard Gold of Engage, Ronnie Fraser from Academic Friends of Israel and NUJ member Joy Wolfe.
- The meeting was a great success.
Engage public meeting
- Engage, the Left-wing group that campaigns against boycotts of Israel and antisemitism, held a public meeting on the boycott on Wednesday evening.
- The event was sold out, with attendees filling the room and the corridor outside.
- John Mann MP, Louise Ellman MP, Jonathan Freedland, Howard Jacobson and Maureen Lipman gave speeches.
- Members of NUJ, UCU and UNISON also explained how the boycott motions passed in their Unions, and how to stop boycotts in the future.
- If you are running any local anti-boycott activity, please let us know.
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Yuli Tamir visit
- Israel's Education Minister, Yuli Tamir, visited the UK earlier this week.
- While here, she addressed a dinner of the New Israel Fund UK.
- She also met with Schools Minister Ed Balls.
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UCU in Congress
- The US House of Representatives passed a motion condemning the UCU for its pro-boycott policy.
- This motion was proposed by Congressman Patrick Murphy, a Democrat.
- It was passed unanimously by a voice-vote.
- You can read the motion here: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/gpoxmlc110/hr467_eh.xml
NUJ move away from boycott
The National Union of Journalists Executive committee distanced themselves from a boycott of Israel.
Responding to a pro-boycott motion passed at the NUJ Annual Meeting in April, the Executive passed a motion that "recognised the concerns expressed by some members, chapels and branches about the proposed boycott", and "resolved to take no further action over the boycott call".
Jeremy Newmark, the Chief Executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, said: "This is an honourable decision and a victory for common sense. It shows that the NUJ leadership are attuned to the wishes of their membership, and should serve as an example to the leaders of other trade unions.
Lorna Fitzsimons, the Chief Executive of BICOM said
"This is a vindication of the members of the NUJ who do not want their union to boycott Israel. This vote is instructive to all the trade unions whose conferences are voting to boycott Israel - the rank and file do not want it."
You can see the NUJ's release on their decision here:
