University of Sydney, May 2021

As Israel continues its murderous airstrikes on Gaza, this branch of the NTEU stands with Palestinians everywhere in their resistance and extends its solidarity to Palestinian university colleagues subject to Israel’s violent ethnic cleansing and settler-colonialism.

Events of the past month starkly show why solidarity with Palestinians is so needed: devastating airstrikes on the Gaza Strip that have so far killed [232] (including [65] children); an acceleration of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem by settler organisations, with the backing of their government; repeated assaults on worshippers in the Al-Aqsa mosque compound by Israeli security forces; and attacks on Palestinians across Israel by vigilante mobs.

As union members committed to solidarity, justice, and respect for international law, we cannot stay silent in the face of war crimes and the continued violation of Palestinians’ basic rights. We note that two major human-rights organisations – the Israeli human rights NGO B’Tselem and Human Rights Watch – have recently confirmed that Israel maintains an apartheid regime against Palestinians. We call on Israel to immediately end its current bombardment and blockade of Gaza and its illegal military occupation of the West Bank, extend full equality to Palestinian citizens of Israel, and recognise the right of Palestinian refugees to return to the homes from which they have been expelled.

We call on all NTEU members, both academic and professional, to participate in active solidarity with Palestinians, including in ongoing demonstrations.

We also call members’ attention to the fact that in 2005, 173 Palestinian civil society organisations, including our colleagues and comrades in the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, the Federation of Unions of Palestinian Universities’ Professors and Employees, the General Union of Palestinian Women, and the General Union of Palestinian Teachers, issued a call to academics worldwide to boycott Israeli universities until such time as these basic prerequisites for justice were achieved.

We note that the May 18 General Strike by Palestinian Labour unions specifically calls on union members internationally to boycott Israel, its products, and complicit institutions and companies, and that 70 members of staff at the University of Sydney, overwhelmingly NTEU members, have already publicly pledged to uphold the academic boycott.

This branch will consider what forms of solidarity with Palestinians it is prepared to take in response to their clear calls for meaningful support.

We call on other branches of the NTEU to also express support for the Palestinians in their struggle for justice and equality. 

Motion recommended to members by branch committee and passed overwhelmingly, National Tertiary Education Union, University of Sydney branch members’ meeting, May 26

University of New South Wales, May 2021

The UNSW branch of the NTEU stands with the Palestinians in their resistance to ethnic cleansing and military occupation and extends its solidarity to colleagues in Palestinian universities subject to Israel’s violent settler-colonialism.

Over the past few weeks, the Israeli Government has attempted to commence forced evacuations of Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah, a Palestinian village in East Jerusalem. With the Israeli Government’s implicit and explicit support, settlers have threatened and abused Palestinian families being expelled from their homes. We’ve also witnessed Israeli forces assault worshippers in the Al-Aqsa mosque compound; conduct airstrikes on the Gaza Strip that have killed at least 212, including 61 children (as of 19 May 2021); and vigilante mobs across Israel attacking Palestinians and damaging their homes, property, and workplaces.

As union members committed to solidarity, justice, and respect for international law, we cannot stay silent in the face of the continued violation of Palestinians’ basic rights. We assert that support for Palestine and a commitment to justice is union business and is in the spirit of international solidarity. We note that two major human-rights organisations – the Israeli human rights NGO B’Tselem and Human Rights Watch – have recently condemned Israel for maintaining an apartheid regime against Palestinians. We call on Israel to end its illegal military occupation of the West Bank and blockade of the Gaza Strip, extend full equality to Palestinian citizens of Israel, and recognise the right of Palestinian refugees to return to the homes from which they have been expelled since 1948.

We call members’ attention to the fact that in 2005, 173 Palestinian civil society organisations, including our colleagues and comrades in the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, the Federation of Unions of Palestinian Universities’ Professors and Employees, the General Union of Palestinian Women, and the General Union of Palestinian Teachers, issued a call to academics worldwide to boycott Israeli universities until such time as these basic prerequisites for justice were achieved. Recently, staff at Birzeit University called on their colleagues the world over to ‘to intensify [their] efforts in boycotting Israel and its academic institutions till it ends its violations of the human rights of the Palestinians.’

We note that 70 members of the academic staff at the University of Sydney, overwhelmingly NTEU members, have already publicly pledged to uphold the boycott. We encourage all academic and professional staff in the NTEU to seriously consider joining the boycott and to do so publicly, and we encourage all NTEU members to consider joining the millions of people worldwide, including in Jewish organisations like Jewish Voice for Peace, who support the wider Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign.

This motion commits that the UNSW NTEU branch will consider a formal endorsement of BDS at the conclusion of the upcoming EA round. Such an endorsement would be in the same spirit of international solidarity that contributed to the ending of apartheid in South Africa.

We call on other branches of the NTEU to also express support for the Palestinians in their struggle for justice and equality.

Passed overwhelmingly, National Tertiary Education Union, University of New South Wales branch members’ meeting, May 26