The faculty union at New York City’s public university system, the City University of New York, voted last week to boycott Israeli entities and institutions, putting the 30,000-member union at odds with the American university administration and the New York state government.

The union, the professional faculty conference, has been a battleground for activism against the Israeli occupation and the settlement movement. Some Jewish professors have claimed that the boycott decision was the latest discriminatory action by the union, which represents them, and it has split the union’s Delegates Assembly, the governing body that voted on the measure.

The text of the resolution cites the number of civilian deaths in Gaza as a result of the Israeli war of extermination, and the actions of the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice as reasons for the boycott.

The resolution says the Professional Faculty Conference will withdraw its funds from “investment vehicles that include government stocks and Israeli companies” by the end of January.

The resolution also calls on the Teachers Retirement System, a municipal corporation in New York City, to enact “full divestment from Israel,” and the union will establish a volunteer committee to investigate further divestments. The committee will report to the union’s assembly of delegates by next month, the resolution says.

The union confirmed that the decision was approved by the Public Services Committee Delegates Assembly by a majority of 73 votes to 70 votes on January 23.

“Many PSC delegates oppose the Israeli government’s conduct of the war in Gaza and are concerned about how PSC members’ pension funds and union contributions are invested,” PSC Chairman James Davis said in a press release. “We were elected to protect the rights of PSC members, improve their pay and working conditions, and strengthen their union. It is important to focus on these core responsibilities while engaging in broader struggles for justice and peace.”

For her part, New York Governor Kathy Hochul (Democrat) condemned the measure in a press statement to the Israeli website "The Times of Israel" on Wednesday.

“In my first week as governor, I signed an executive order to withdraw public funds from institutions that participate in the harmful Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement — and that order remains in effect,” Hochul said, according to the website. “I strongly oppose the resolution that the PSC-CUNY delegates narrowly passed and will continue to stand against anti-Semitism and hate in all its forms.”

It should be noted that in 2016, Hochul’s predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, signed an executive order requiring government entities to withdraw public funds from companies or institutions that boycott Israel. Hochul confirmed this order after taking office in 2021. Hochul’s statement did not address the specific actions that might result from a PSC boycott.

In response to the governor's statement, union president Davis said, "The union (PSC) unequivocally condemns all forms of hatred, including anti-Semitism. The divestment resolution was a very close vote (73-70) on an issue on which our members deeply and sincerely disagree."

Two groups representing Jewish and pro-Israel faculty in the CUNY system criticized the decision as discriminatory.

The union's decision has drawn fire from pro-Israel groups, some of whom have filed a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights against the boycott, noting that New York's anti-discrimination law prohibits labor organizations from excluding or expelling members based on religion or national origin. The complaints allege that the decision discriminates against Jews and Israelis.

The CUNY Coalition for Inclusion, a front for the Israel lobby in New York, claimed the decision "discredits CUNY."

The group's statement used the routine Israeli narrative that Hamas periodically wages wars against Israel, knowing that anti-Zionists will come to its defense and portray Israel as the aggressor.

It is noteworthy that last May, the PSC rejected a similar resolution calling for a boycott of Israel over its bloody war on Gaza, and the rejection at the time was (most likely) linked to union negotiations.

It is noteworthy that last year, amid protests across CUNY, the union condemned a pro-Palestinian strike by its members, but also supported the protesting students in several statements.

The Public Service Commission says it represents 30,000 faculty and staff members at 25 CUNY colleges. CUNY is part of the fabric of New York City, with more than 230,000 students across the five boroughs of New York City.