Faculty Unions Adopt Divestment and Boycott Motions
Beginning in March of this year, seven unions representing faculty and other academic staff at universities in Quebec and Canada have so far passed motions in line with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign called for by Palestinian unions. Organizing continues across the country to secure additional motions.
On March 22, the Syndicat général des professeures et professeurs de l'Université de Montréal, became the first to pass a motion calling for a boycott of Israeli universities complicit in Israeli war crimes until Israel complies with all its obligations under international law.
Then on April 12 members of the Windsor University Faculty Association became the first faculty union in Canada to pass a motion calling for their pensions to be divested from companies and investments complicit in Israeli war crimes and illegal occupations. The motion also called for the University of Windsor to completely divest from companies and investments complicit in Israeli war crimes and illegal occupations; implement a complete boycott of Israeli universities and cultural institutions (exchange programs, research collaborations, partnerships, scholarships and fellowships); call for a ceasefire, and foster academic links with Palestinian universities and scholars.
On April 18, members of the Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) Faculty Association passed a motion calling for the University to boycott and divest from all institutions and corporations complicit in Israeli war crimes, breaches of international law and human rights violations, including scholasticide (destruction of the education system) in all Occupied Palestinian Territories (Gaza, West Bank and East Jerusalem). The motion also calls for strengthening links with Palestinian academics under the auspices of WLU's Scholars at Risk Program.
On April 24, Renison Association of Academic Staff representing faculty at Renison University College, affiliated with the University of Waterloo, adopted a similar motion, including a call for the University of Waterloo to strengthen academic links with Palestinian academic and educational workers in Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as in the diaspora, to support the academic freedom to research, write, speak and teach on Palestinian history, peoples and experiences.
Also in April, the Faculty Association of the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver passed a motion to “support the international campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), until Israel meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination and fully complies with the precepts of international law.”
On May 1, at its Annual General Meeting, the University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association passed three motions. The first endorsed the UN's definition of academic freedom, emphasizing the importance of international law and human rights and took a stand in support of "the global movement for an institutional Boycott, Divestments, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against the state of Israel." The second condemned Israel’s violence against Palestinian scholars, students, and educational institutions. The third expressed support for Palestinian scholars and students impacted by Israel’s attacks and urged the University of Saskatchewan to provide them with opportunities, scholarships, and financial aid.
On May 7, the Faculty Association at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) voted to investigate the university's academic and financial interests linked to the genocide of Palestinians. Members voted to establish a committee that would "assess TMU’s potential complicity in arming Israel through complicit institutions and corporations," look into divesting from complicit companies, and review (and end) cooperation with Israeli academic and cultural institutions.
The resolution also called for the establishment of academic partnerships with Palestinian universities and scholars.
This article was published in
Volume 54 Number 32 - May 9, 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/MS543213.HTM
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