http://www.journal-online.co.uk/articles/show/3381

The University College Union this week denied allegations that asking union members to question their contacts with Israel is in violation of their legal powers. The denial comes amid allegations from several anonymous members from within the union itself.

The union, whose membership numbers approximately 120,000 higher and further education staff around Britain, instead argues that it is within its legal rights to express concerns about its member’s links with Israel – especially concerning the ongoing moral and political debate surrounding the region.

The union could face court action if the Israeli motion, passed during the UCU’s national conference this year, is not rescinded. Furthermore, the plaintiffs argue that any money spent by the union on the Israeli motion should be reimbursed and that UCU’s trustees-Professor Neil Macfarlane, Dr Dennis Wright, Fawzi Ibrahim and Paul Russell-should personally return any money spent.

In response to the claims, the union leadership argued that a court case would be excessive, and that the union has a right to express its concerns. Furthermore, UCU’s general secretary, Sally Hunt, was quoted in The Guardian saying “UCU has full respect for the court of law and will therefore not be commenting directly on the case or any documents that may have found their way to the press.”

The motion this year marks the second time that the UCU has been involved in debates over Israel, when in May 2007 academics from universities across the country backed calls for a debate on the boycott of Israeli institutions. Interestingly however, general secretary Sally Hunt then argued against the boycott, citing that she did not believe that members of the UCU would support the motion for a boycott.

The 2007 motion, which argued that “passivity or neutrality was unacceptable”, was originally suggested by philosophy lecturer, Tom Hickey, from Brighton University. While it appeared that many further educational staff supported the move, it was condemned by both the British and Israeli governments.

Furthermore, the fact that the original 2007 motion was passed by the UCU by 158 votes to 99, with 17 abstentions, makes many members question where the dissent of the motion comes from; especially since the first debate took place over a year ago.

The union insists that it will meet with all discontented members in order to come to a peaceful resolution.