Lecturers reverse boycott decision

A special council meeting of the AUT university lecturers' union at the end of May voted to reverse a decision to boycott two Israeli universities.

The union's normal annual council meeting in April had backed the boycott.

However, following that meeting a debate erupted inside the union which flowed over into the national and international media.

A number of AUT members had instructed their solicitors to contact the union, threatening legal action, if the boycott decision was not revoked

The special council was called after 25 council members used their right under the union's constitution to call a special meeting.

Following the special council, AUT general secretary Sally Hunt urged the opposing sides in the debate "to build bridges" and "to commit to supporting trade unionists in Israel and Palestine working for peace.".