Europe's Largest Teachers' Union Endorses Israel Boycott Call

National Union of Teachers delegates heard a report from the delegation of Executive and non-Executive members who visited Palestine in October of last year, and "the strengthening of links between the National Union of Teachers and the General Union of Palestinian Teachers".

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(LONDON) - The largest teachers' union in Europe has passed a resolution backing a boycott of companies profiting from Israel's illegal settlements and occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The National Union of Teachers which has more than 300,000 members in England and Wales, adopted the motion on Palestine (see Motion 31) at its recent annual conference. The vote was conducted by a show of hands, and passed by a clear majority.

Commenting after the debate on the Motion, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said: "We call on the British Government to pursue vigorously the dismantling of the 700 km-long wall which separates many Palestinians from their schools and their land, and to support the UN's call for the lifting of the blockade of Gaza."

“The Union will continue to call upon the UK Government to fulfil international obligations in relation to the treatment of Palestinian Child Prisoners. This was the pledge given by our recent delegation to Palestine led by our ex-President Beth Davies.”

National Union of Teachers delegates heard a report from the delegation of Executive and non-Executive members who visited Palestine in October of last year, and "the strengthening of links between the National Union of Teachers and the General Union of Palestinian Teachers". Conference delegates all received a post-trip report.

Conference instructs the Executive to: 

 

i. Support TUC policy, to “boycott the goods of, companies who profit 

from illegal settlements, the Occupation and the construction of the 

Wall”; 

ii. Pressure the UK Government to call on the Israeli Government to 

comply with international law and human rights treaties; 

iii. Work to win the backing of Education International and the ETUC(E) 

for these policies and to seek to collaborate with like minded unions 

internationally; 

iv. Convey these views to the Israeli Teachers Union; 

v. Express our solidarity with the GUPT for its objectives for education 

and discuss with them ways to develop this solidarity; 

vi. Call for an end to the discrimination against Palestinian students and 

teachers within Israel; 

vii. Encourage divisions to make links with Palestinian teachers and 

schools including organising delegation exchanges; 

viii. Encourage Associations, Schools and Divisions to publicise the report 

of the delegation to members; invite speakers to their meetings and 

encourage active membership participation in work on this issue; 

ix. Organise a special meeting for Division representatives and 

International Solidarity Officers to present the report, explain Union 

policy, outlining ways to develop the work and incorporate regular 

updates in Divisional Secretaries briefings and school representatives 

training; and 

x. Continue to campaign for the rights of Palestinian children including 

child prisoners and work to engage all members in this campaign 

encouraging individual membership of and affiliation to the Palestine 

Solidarity Campaign and support for Action for Palestinian Children 

Prisoners.

http://www.teachers.org.uk/files/nut-final-agenda.pdf

pp. 45-46