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Imperial College UCU members: 90% back a ballot - and overwhelmingly reject the boycott

'In the light of the passing of Motion 30 at UCU Congress concerning a proposed boycott of Israeli academic institutions (see text of the motion below), the UCU executive "encourages branches to seek members views directly." Imperial College UCU (ICUCU) therefore conducted an email survey of the membership to guide our local position and convey the local opinion to the national leadership'.

Results of the Survey:

Question 1 (Do you support Motion 30?)

Yes 16 %
No 82 %
No response 2 %

Question 2 (Do you think that there should be a national ballot of membership before UCU adopts any international academic boycott?)

Yes 90 %
No 6 %
No response 4 %

Percentage of ICUCU members who voted: 14 %

Motion 30 - Boycott of Israeli Academic Institutions

(Composite between University of Brighton, Grand Parade; University of East London, Docklands; Amended by College of North East London)

Congress notes that Israel's 40-year occupation has seriously damaged the fabric of Palestinian society through annexation, illegal settlement, collective punishment and restriction of movement.

Congress deplores the denial of educational rights for Palestinians by invasions, closures, checkpoints, curfews, and shootings and arrests of teachers, lecturers and students.

Congress condemns the complicity of Israeli academia in the occupation, which has provoked a call from Palestinian trade unions for a comprehensive and consistent international boycott of all Israeli academic institutions.

Congress believes that in these circumstances passivity or neutrality is unacceptable and criticism of Israel cannot be construed as anti-semitic.

Congress instructs the NEC to:

circulate the full text of the Palestinian boycott call to all branches/LAs for information and discussion;

encourage members to consider the moral implications of existing and proposed links with Israeli academic institutions;

organise a UK-wide campus tour for Palestinian academic/educational trade unionists;

issue guidance to members on appropriate forms of action

actively encourage and support branches to create direct links with Palestinian educational institutions and to help set up nationally sponsored programmes for teacher exchanges, sabbatical placements, and research'

Petition for a ballot

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