The Academic Friends of Israel 4 February 2008
The 2008 University and College Union elections for members of the National Executive Committee
This issue of the AFI digest is devoted to the University and College Union [UCU] elections for 32 members of the National Executive committee. This digest provides information on for those academics who are members of the UCU and who have until 29 February 2007 to return their ballot papers.
The UCU was formed on 1 June 2006 by the merger of the academic trade unions, the AUT and NATFHE and has 120,000 members. There are 700 Higher and Further education Institutions in the UK. 100 of them are Universities of which 80 were AUT strongholds and most of the rest were represented by NATFHE.
Background
The 2007 UCU Congress voted in favour of a resolution to discuss an academic boycott of Israel. On the 28 Sept 2007 the UCU announced that after seeking legal advice, an academic boycott of Israel would be unlawful and could not be implemented. Many of the candidates standing for election attended the Congress.
The 2006 NATFHE conference passed a resolution calling Israel's policies towards the Palestinians "apartheid policies" and urged the union's 67,000 members to boycott Israeli academics unless they publicly support those policies. The policy was in force for 3 days before it lapsed because of the merger of the 2 unions.
In May 2005, AUT Council voted for a boycott of Haifa and Bar Ilan universities, one month later after the membership at been consulted at branch meetings the boycott motion was overturned by a reconvened council meeting. The following year the AUT council approved a set of guidelines for instituting any future boycott.
The 2005 NATFHE conference approved almost unanimously a motion supporting the AUT’s right to pass a boycott of Israel and expressed solidarity with the first AUT council decision. The motion also stated that to criticise Israel policy or institutions is not anti-Semitic. There were two votes against the motion, one of which was mine.
The elections for members of the National Executive
The academic boycott of Israel is an issue that everybody knows is there but nobody has mentioned it in their election address. You will find below a spread sheet with the names of all the candidates and as much information as we have been able to find about their views on boycotts.
33 of the 42 candidates were at the 2007 Congress, we know for certain that four of the names marked in red voted against the boycott motion. We recommend you vote for the candidates who we know are opposed to a boycott and whose names are marked in red.
The UCU Left is a national organisation of University and College Union activists.
The UCU Left opposes imperialist wars and imperialism. The UCU Left candidates are endorsed by the Socialist Workers Party [SWP] which supports the Palestinian right of return which would destroy the basis of Israel as a Jewish state and a single secular and democratic Palestinian state. The UCU Left opposed the 2007 Congress motion on the rise of antisemitism which they saw would limit their ability to criticise Israel.
• Of the 16 NEC members standing for re-election 8 are supported by the UCU Left.
17 out of the 42 are supported by the UCU Left. At present supporters of the UCU Left hold half the seats on the NEC.
• Those Candidates marked as 2005 NATFHE conference delegate means that they supported the 2005 NATFHE motion [see above] and also attended the 2006 conference and probably voted in support of the 2006 boycott motion.
• Those Candidates marked as 2006 NATFHE conference delegate means that they attended the 2006 conference only and may have voted in support of the 2006 NATFHE boycott motion [see above]
• Supporters of the Stop the War coalition are listed were known because this movement operates from the UCU offices.
Supporters of the Unite against Fascism movement are listed because this movement was founded by NATFHE to oppose Right-wing antisemitism and operates from the UCU offices
We do not recommend voting for any of the UCU Left candidates
On the basis of the evidence available The Academic Friends of Israel feels that each of you has to make up your own minds since there is little to choose between the candidates.
Voting will be by single transferable vote which means members can if they wish number their ballot papers in the order of their preferred candidates. We advise limiting your choices to your favoured candidates and no others.
Ronnie Fraser
Director
Academic Friends of Israel
List of Candidates Ms Pamela Beevers (Goldsmiths College) AUT UCU 2007 conference delegate Paul Brown (University of Dundee) AUT 2008 UCU Left candidate, supported the 2005 AUT boycott motions UCU 2007 conference delegate Jon Bryan (Newcastle College) 2006 NATFHE conference delegate Opposed to boycott UCU 2007 conference delegate NEC member Mark Campbell (London Metropolitan University) NATFHE 2008 UCU Left candidate UCU 2007 conference delegate Lynne Chamberlain (RNIB Redhill College) 2005 NATFHE conference delegate 2008 UCU Left candidate, member of Repect party and Socialist Workers party UCU 2007 conference delegate NEC member Dr Steve Clark (Nottingham Trent University) NATFHE Pauline Collins (Open University) Maire Daley (Liverpool Community College) 2005 NATFHE conference delegate 2007 UCU Left candidate UCU 2007 conference delegate NEC member Professor Mary Davis (London Metropolitan University) 2005 NATFHE conference delegate Opposed to boycott UCU 2007 conference delegate NEC member Mr Adam Dwight (City of Wolverhampton College) NATFHE Graeme Edwards (Liverpool Community College) NATFHE Mr Andrew Feeney (Northumbria University) UCU 2007 conference delegate NEC member Dr Jeff Fowler (Sunderland University) 2006 NATFHE conference delegate 2008 UCU Left candidate, "Solidarity with the struggles of workers in other countries, such as Palestine" UCU 2007 conference delegate NEC member Mr Dave Guppy (University College London) AUT UCU 2007 conference delegate NEC member Dr Joanna de Groot (University of York) AUT UCU 2007 conference delegate Jane Hardy (University of Hertfordshire) AUT 2008 UCU Left candidate UCU 2007 conference delegate NEC member Terry Hoad (University of Oxford) AUT Opposed to a boycott of Israeli academics or academic institutions, UCU 2007 conference delegate NEC member Jill Jones (University of Westminster) NATFHE 2006 NATFHE conference delegate UCU 2007 conference delegate NEC member Lesley Kane (Open University) AUT UCU 2007 conference delegate Mrs Julie Kelley (Hull College) Dr Elizabeth Lawrence (Sheffield Hallam University) 2005 NATFHE conference delegate 2008 UCU Left candidate, " We should defend the right of the Palestinians to an independent state" UCU 2007 conference delegate NEC member Keith Mallinson (HMP Wormwood Scrubs) Prison NATFHE 2008 UCU Left candidate UCU 2007 conference delegate NEC member Mr John McCormack (Northumberland College) 2006 NATFHE conference delegate UCU 2007 conference delegate Dr Lesley McIntosh (Robert Gordon University) UCU 2007 conference delegate NEC member Dr David Miller (University of Leeds) AUT Opposed to a boycott , member of Engage Howard Miles (Bradford College) 2005 NATFHE conference delegate 2008 UCU Left candidate, member of Stop the War, Unite against Facism UCU 2007 conference delegate NEC member Carlo Morelli (University of Dundee) AUT 2008 UCU Left candidate, supported the 2005 AUT boycott motions, twinned Dundee with Palestinian University of An Najah in Nablus. Andrew Morgan (University of Swansea) UCU 2007 conference delegate Hamish Murphy (North East Wales Institute of Higher Education) NATFHE 2008 UCU Left Candidate Jon Pike (Open University) AUT Opposed to a boycott, Chairman of Engage Dr Renee Prendergast (Queen's University Belfast) AUT UCU 2007 conference delegate Dr Gavin Reid (University of Leeds) AUT UCU 2007 conference delegate Patricia Roche (Blackpool and Fylde College) 2005 & 2006 NATFHE conference delegate UCU 2007 conference delegate NEC member Simon Renton (University College London) AUT UCU 2007 conference delegate NEC member Amanda Sackur (London Metropolitan University) NATFHE 2008 UCU Left candidate Angela Shann (University of Sheffield) AUT 2008 UCU Left candidate, member of Respect party, supporter of Stop the War, Unite against Fascism, delegate to European Social Forum UCU 2007 conference delegate Stephen Soskin (Buckinghamshire New University) NATFHE Opposed to a boycott, member of Academic Friends of Israel and Engage UCU 2007 conference delegate Alliya Stennett (City College Birmingham) NATFHE 2007 UCU Left candidate, member of Respect party,Stop the War, Unite against Facism and Socialist Workers party UCU 2007 conference delegate David Swanson (City College Manchester) NATFHE 2008 UCU Left candidate UCU 2007 conference delegate Jim Thakoordin (Bedfordshire ACE) 2005 & 2006 NATFHE conference delegate 2008 UCU Left candidate UCU 2007 conference delegate NEC member Roger Walters (Open University) AUT UCU 2007 conference delegate Christine Vie (Manchester Metropolitan University) NATFHE 2008 UCU Left candidate, member of Stop the War and Unite Against Fascism UCU 2007 conference delegate
| Ms Pamela Beevers (Goldsmiths College) | AUT | UCU 2007 conference delegate | ||
| Paul Brown (University of Dundee) | AUT | 2008 UCU Left candidate, supported the 2005 AUT boycott motions | UCU 2007 conference delegate | |
| Jon Bryan (Newcastle College) | 2006 NATFHE conference delegate | Opposed to boycott | UCU 2007 conference delegate | NEC member |
| Mark Campbell (London Metropolitan University) | NATFHE | 2008 UCU Left candidate | UCU 2007 conference delegate | |
| Lynne Chamberlain (RNIB Redhill College) | 2005 NATFHE conference delegate | 2008 UCU Left candidate, member of Repect party and Socialist Workers party | UCU 2007 conference delegate | NEC member |
| Dr Steve Clark (Nottingham Trent University) | NATFHE | |||
| Pauline Collins (Open University) | ||||
| Maire Daley (Liverpool Community College) | 2005 NATFHE conference delegate | 2007 UCU Left candidate | UCU 2007 conference delegate | NEC member |
| Professor Mary Davis (London Metropolitan University) | 2005 NATFHE conference delegate | Opposed to boycott | UCU 2007 conference delegate | NEC member |
| Mr Adam Dwight (City of Wolverhampton College) | NATFHE | |||
| Graeme Edwards (Liverpool Community College) | NATFHE | |||
| Mr Andrew Feeney (Northumbria University) | UCU 2007 conference delegate | NEC member | ||
| Dr Jeff Fowler (Sunderland University) | 2006 NATFHE conference delegate | 2008 UCU Left candidate, "Solidarity with the struggles of workers in other countries, such as Palestine" | UCU 2007 conference delegate | NEC member |
| Mr Dave Guppy (University College London) | AUT | UCU 2007 conference delegate | NEC member | |
| Dr Joanna de Groot (University of York) | AUT | UCU 2007 conference delegate | ||
| Jane Hardy (University of Hertfordshire) | AUT | 2008 UCU Left candidate | UCU 2007 conference delegate | NEC member |
| Terry Hoad (University of Oxford) | AUT | Opposed to a boycott of Israeli academics or academic institutions, | UCU 2007 conference delegate | NEC member |
| Jill Jones (University of Westminster) | NATFHE | 2006 NATFHE conference delegate | UCU 2007 conference delegate | NEC member |
| Lesley Kane (Open University) | AUT | UCU 2007 conference delegate | ||
| Mrs Julie Kelley (Hull College) | ||||
| Dr Elizabeth Lawrence (Sheffield Hallam University) | 2005 NATFHE conference delegate | 2008 UCU Left candidate, " We should defend the right of the Palestinians to an independent state" | UCU 2007 conference delegate | NEC member |
| Keith Mallinson (HMP Wormwood Scrubs) Prison | NATFHE | 2008 UCU Left candidate | UCU 2007 conference delegate | NEC member |
| Mr John McCormack (Northumberland College) | 2006 NATFHE conference delegate | UCU 2007 conference delegate | ||
| Dr Lesley McIntosh (Robert Gordon University) | UCU 2007 conference delegate | NEC member | ||
| Dr David Miller (University of Leeds) | AUT | Opposed to a boycott , member of Engage | ||
| Howard Miles (Bradford College) | 2005 NATFHE conference delegate | 2008 UCU Left candidate, member of Stop the War, Unite against Facism | UCU 2007 conference delegate | NEC member |
| Carlo Morelli (University of Dundee) | AUT | 2008 UCU Left candidate, supported the 2005 AUT boycott motions, twinned Dundee with Palestinian University of An Najah in Nablus. | ||
| Andrew Morgan (University of Swansea) | UCU 2007 conference delegate | |||
| Hamish Murphy (North East Wales Institute of Higher Education) | NATFHE | 2008 UCU Left Candidate | ||
| Jon Pike (Open University) | AUT | Opposed to a boycott, Chairman of Engage | ||
| Dr Renee Prendergast (Queen's University Belfast) | AUT | UCU 2007 conference delegate | ||
| Dr Gavin Reid (University of Leeds) | AUT | UCU 2007 conference delegate | ||
| Patricia Roche (Blackpool and Fylde College) | 2005 & 2006 NATFHE conference delegate | UCU 2007 conference delegate | NEC member | |
| Simon Renton (University College London) | AUT | UCU 2007 conference delegate | NEC member | |
| Amanda Sackur (London Metropolitan University) | NATFHE | 2008 UCU Left candidate | ||
| Angela Shann (University of Sheffield) | AUT | 2008 UCU Left candidate, member of Respect party, supporter of Stop the War, Unite against Fascism, delegate to European Social Forum | UCU 2007 conference delegate | |
| Stephen Soskin (Buckinghamshire New University) | NATFHE | Opposed to a boycott, member of Academic Friends of Israel and Engage | UCU 2007 conference delegate | |
| Alliya Stennett (City College Birmingham) | NATFHE | 2007 UCU Left candidate, member of Respect party,Stop the War, Unite against Facism and Socialist Workers party | UCU 2007 conference delegate | |
| David Swanson (City College Manchester) | NATFHE | 2008 UCU Left candidate | UCU 2007 conference delegate | |
| Jim Thakoordin (Bedfordshire ACE) | 2005 & 2006 NATFHE conference delegate | 2008 UCU Left candidate | UCU 2007 conference delegate | NEC member |
| Roger Walters (Open University) | AUT | UCU 2007 conference delegate | ||
| Christine Vie (Manchester Metropolitan University) | NATFHE | 2008 UCU Left candidate, member of Stop the War and Unite Against Fascism | UCU 2007 conference delegate |
Patron:
The Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks
Advisory Board:
Dr Manfred Gerstenfeld - Chairman of the Board of Fellows, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.
Henry Grunwald Q.C. - President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews
Amir Lev
John D A Levy - Director of the Academic Study Group on Israel and the Middle East
Andrew R. Marks, M.D. - Columbia University, USA
Dr Robin Stamler
Professor Leslie Wagner CBE
Rt Hon Lord Young of Graffham
The Academic Friends of Israel Ltd is limited by guarantee and registered in England No 5297417.