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United Teachers Los Angeles’ supreme decision-making body on Thursday (September 23) voted to indefinitely postpone decision-making on a controversial resolution that would have supported Palestine and the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel, according to a member of UTLA.
The initial proposal was presented in May in the middle 11 days of deadly fighting between Israel and Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory. But a number of parents, educators and members of the Jewish community repulsed, and some UTLA members threatened to quit the teachers’ union if it took a pro-BDS stance.
In response, the UTLA board recommended that the House of Representatives table of 250 union members vote and proposed that voluntary educational forums on the Middle East conflict be held instead.
Voting on a substitution motion reflecting the board’s recommendation was 95-35, according to House Member Scott Mandel, who helped draft it.
“This subsidiary motion is based on the fear that this is an extremely contentious issue which would seriously undermine union unity at a time when we need solidarity in our next contract battles”, we read in the motion on which the members of the House ended up voting.
UTLA is preparing to start negotiations with the district on a new contract in the coming months.
Some UTLA members who supported the pro-BDS resolution said before Thursday that while the initial proposal did not move forward, they viewed the recent debates and future educational forums as a victory for their cause. Such conversations have highlighted and will continue to highlight an important issue, they said.
Shortly after Thursday’s vote, the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, which helped coordinate a letter-writing campaign opposing the original BDS resolution, said in a statement it looked forward to continuing. to work with union leaders “to ensure zero tolerance for anti-Semitism”.
“We are grateful that the UTLA leadership has heard the voices of our community and the voices of hundreds of UTLA members who have spoken out against the motion and strongly opposed anti-Semitism,” said the UTLA. federation.
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