CUNY professors union does 180 on plan to boycott Israel after supposed voting irregularities
A labor union of City University of New York professors repealed a controversial resolution supporting a boycott of Israel – as members cited voting “irregularities” and fierce backlash.The “boycott, divest and sanction” resolution passed last month last month focused on cutting off union reserves from the Jewish State and urging the teachers’ pension system including professors to do the same.It passed in a narrow 73-70 and slammed Israel’s bombing of Gaza and the killing of thousands of civilians.But amid a backlash from members who support Israel, leaders with the Professional Staff Congress said there were “irregularities” with the initial Jan.23 vote.The faculty union held a second vote on the BDS resolution Feb.
20 — and the divestment resolution was overwhelmingly defeated with 113 opposed, while only 63 votes in favor.“The [PSC] Delegate Assembly chose to rescind the resolution because irregularities were identified in the January 23 vote.The irregularities were corrected and a revote was held on February 20,” confirmed PSC spokesman Francis Clark.“The divestment resolution failed with a vote of 113 opposed, 63 in favor.”Pro-Israel professors claimed criticism of the anti-Israel resolution pressured the union to conduct a revote on it.
Opponents claimed singling out the Jewish State for a boycott was antisemitic.For example, the statement made no mention of the Oct.7, 2023 attack on Israel when Hamas terrorists killed 1,200 people in the Jewish State and took scores of hostages — triggering Israel’s response and effectively ending the war.“I am thrilled that the union – solely for its own survival—rescinded its hateful, illegal, and antisemitic resolution and I am hopeful that this is a trend that catches on nationally,” said CUNY law professor Jeffrey Lax, founder of Students, Alumni, and Faculty for Equality on Campus [S.A.F.E].“We have a long way to go to reform this union and make it a tolerant one for Jewish ...