Two Palestine-related actions for members to consider
In accordance with national and local branch policy, we are writing to draw your attention two Palestine-related actions:
- National March for Palestine on Saturday 6th July, meeting 12 noon at Russell Square
- Sign the UCL staff Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions pledge
In related news, colleagues at the University of Birmingham have asked us to inform members that their senior management are using university funds to take students involved in peaceful campus Palestine demonstrations to court. The hearing began at London’s Royal Court of Justice this morning.
More details on both actions:
1. National March for Palestine, Saturday 6th July, 12 noon at Russell Square
The march will be starting at noon at Russell Square and end in Parliament Square. The route and details can be found here: https://palestinecampaign.org/events/national-march-for-palestine-2/.
There will be a Trade Union Block on the march in which UCU will be represented.
2. Sign the UCL Staff BDS Pledge
A UCL UCU branch meeting on 27th June voted to support a motion calling on the branch to circulate the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions pledge for UCL staff. The pledge has approximately 700 signatories from across all staff groups and Faculties at UCL.
As you know, the international boycott movement was pivotal in ending apartheid in South Africa and similar BDS pledges are circulating at many other universities including Kings College London and LSE.
Members are asked to consider signing the pledge and supporting BDS activities at UCL.
UCU would like to make clear that this is an institutional boycott rather than a boycott of individuals.
Further information about the pledge and about the BDS movement at UCL can be found on the UCL BDS Movement website.
