The logo for the University of California. Photo: Google Images.

JNS.org – United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 285, a union representing 13,000 student-workers and academic employees in the 10-campus University of California (UC) system, on Wednesday voted to participate in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.

A pro-BDS resolution promoted by the union’s organizers passed in a 1,411-749 vote. In a second option on the ballot, 1,136 union members pledged to personally adhere to the academic boycott of Israel.

“It is unfortunate that the UAW 2865 fell for the manipulative tactics of BDS,” the pro-Israel education group StandWithUs said in a statement. “While it masquerades as a human rights movement that seeks a better life for Palestinians, BDS’s true goal is the elimination of Israel and the end of Jewish self-determination. Indeed, at an event organized by the UAW 2865 BDS Caucus, one of the speakers explicitly stated that ‘bringing down Israel really will benefit everyone in the world.'”