A resolution by CUPE Ontario to boycott Israeli universities to show solidarity with Palestinian civilians suffering from Israeli attacks on Gaza is causing more dissension, this time from the university workers the union represents.

The resolution was originally passed at a conference in 2006 and at that time simply called for a peaceful end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

CUPE Ontario president Sid Ryan recently went further, advocating a boycott of Israeli professors. He subsequently backed down and called for a boycott of Israeli universities.

The move would mean researchers and professors at the province’s postsecondary institutions would not collaborate with their Israeli colleagues.

Action like that is unacceptable, said Aldo DiCarlo, president of Local 1393, which represents technicians and maintenance workers at the University of Windsor. He said the boycott would hamper research and is counter to the long tradition of collaboration by universities around the world.

DiCarlo said his members are furious.