UAW Votes To Divest From Israeli Bonds At 39th Constitutional Convention In Detroit

The United Auto Workers voted at its 39th Constitutional Convention in Detroit, Michigan to divest about $400,000 in Israeli bonds, making it the first major national union to vote in favor of disengaging from Israeli obligations.

“By Navruz Baum After members of the UAWD [Unite All Workers for Democracy – the opposition caucus within the UAW] had forced the amendment to be placed on the agenda of the constitutional Congress, the UAW delegates voted in favor of divesting the $400,000 that the union held – according to its own figures – in Israeli bonds”

alencontre

The divestment vote was organized by Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD) and UAW Labour for Palestine, and it was adopted on Thursday at the convention where around 1,000 delegates from UAW locals gathered to discuss the union’s strategy for the next four years.

Fraternité

Fraternité reported that UAW members voted to disengage from Israeli obligations issued directly by Israel and functioning as loans to the Israeli government, and it said the resolution cited nearly three years of genocide in Gaza and the Palestinian labor movement’s call for workers worldwide to act in solidarity.

TheAnalysis.news said the constitutional amendment commits the union to divest from Israeli bonds—about $475,000 it currently holds—linking the decision to a grassroots campaign led by auto workers, academic workers, and graduate employees.

Struggle-La Lucha said delegates voted to pull union funds out of Israel bonds on June 18, after UAWD members pushed to get the divestment amendment placed on the floor.

It reported that on June 17, Olga Karounos moved to call the divestment amendment out of committee and that by UAWD’s count, 147 delegates stood with her, past the 128 needed to put it on the floor.

NW Labor Press

It also said the convention debated and adopted the divestment amendment on June 18 by 321 to 287, after an earlier UAW Executive Board vote on divestment failed on May 3, 2024.

In theAnalysis.news interview, Olga Karounos described the fight as one that had been going on for over 50 years, saying, "it felt honestly scarier than talking to a jury before trial" as she stood on the shoulders of workers who had brought similar amendments in 1974.

Fraternité quoted Olga Karounos saying the divestment would send a message to the billionaire class and to politicians, adding, "to Netanyahu, to the U.S. government" and that it would put the UAW back on the map to defend international solidarity.

“Sign in About the NW Labor Press Contact us Comments policy Change of address Subscribe Subscribe to our email edition Subscribe to our print edition Support our work Our movement Union Organizing Collective bargaining Training the Next Generation Building our communities Union democracy People In Memoriam Culture Analysis Comment Labor History Our rights Workers Rights Worker safety Health Care Retirement Our jobs The work we do Jobs Green Jobs Buying Union Our politics Politics International Trade National Oregon Multnomah County Portland Clackamas County Washington County Washington Clark County Sign in [](https://nwlaborpress”

NW Labor Press

It also said the UAW has a history of left grassroots action, including its divestment from South Africa in 1978, and it reported that in December 2023 the UAW became the first major union to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Struggle-La Lucha described the convention as a place where rank-and-file delegates advanced a political agenda beyond contract bargaining, including amendments introduced by UAWD members to "Abolish ICE and Fight State Attacks on Workers" and to "Fight Layoffs with Work Sharing."

It further reported that UAWD’s divestment shows the potential for greater militancy and labor solidarity action within the U.S. labor movement, while also noting that the Pentagon wars were being framed as a push to make Detroit’s auto industry a military manufacturing hub and that Washington was pushing for a draconian $1.5 trillion military budget.