Firm News

AUT members instruct Mishcon de Reya against their union

Release Date:

19 May 2005

Several members of the Association of University Teachers (AUT) have consulted Anthony Julius of law firm Mishcon de Reya. They have asked him to advise on the legality of the AUT's resolutions boycotting certain Israeli universities.

Mishcon de Reya today sent a letter to the General Secretary of the AUT, Sally Hunt, saying that,

“The boycott resolutions are not within the objects of the AUT. …The resolutions and any instructions for implementation are not authorised by the AUT rules. Indeed, so far from being within the rules, they are contrary… to the very purposes for which the AUT exists”. “Our clients are entitled to take proceedings in the High Court…”

The letter continues,

“…if union funds are being spent by the AUT in connection with these resolutions, then that expenditure is not authorised by the [AUT] rules. Our clients are entitled to ask the High Court to make an order restraining further expenditure requiring the relevant officers to reimburse any sums expended by the union.”

In conclusion Mishcon de Reya states that,

“The resolutions are a threat to the integrity of the AUT, as well as to the cause of academic freedom.”