Union calls for East End Food Co-op to divest from Israel
Board prefers to concentrate on food business rather than international conflicts
If UE Local 667 has its way, customers won’t be able to purchase products from Israel at the East End Food Co-op.
The union, which represents workers at the food market on Meade Street in Point Breeze, is trying to force the co-op to divest from the Jewish state.
In social media posts, the union chapter said it voted in July to endorse the boycott, divest and sanction movement against Israel and that it was working to make the co-op an “apartheid free zone.” The posts also said the union was gathering signatures to present to the market’s board of directors proposing EEFC present a full disclosure of all Israeli sourced products and investments, and divest from any entity associated “with the Israeli apartheid regime.”
Both the local chapter and the national union, which is not affiliated with the AFL-CIO, have called for a cease-fire in Israel’s war with Hamas without mentioning the hostages still being held in Gaza or the fact that a cease-fire existed on Oct. 7, 2023, when the terrorist organization violated it by invading Israel, murdering more than 1200 people and taking more than 250 people captive.
The latest local salvo in the BDS war follows the union’s support of a failed petition for a referendum on November’s ballot that would have required the City of Pittsburgh to divest from Israel, and an earlier motion, introduced by Allegheny County Councilmember Bethany Hallam, for the county council to approve a cease-fire resolution.
While the union is attempting to force the board to divest from Israel, the board says it does not take an official stance on international conflicts and that its mission is to serve the local community, regardless of identity or affiliation. It has declined requests to boycott Israeli products.
Board member Nico Demkin said that while the board doesn’t want to take a stance on any socio-political matter, there is a provision allowing members to petition the board on issues concerning those members. Petitioners would have to collect signatures from 500 members.
“We don’t have to implement it,” Demkin said. “If membership feels strongly and gets 500 signatures then we can decide whether we want to hold a general vote, a committee discussion or if we want to have an open member access on a topic.”
The board is aware of the union’s pressure campaign, he said, just as it is aware of customers who have been unhappy seeing union members with anti-Israel signs or stickers.
The board, Demkin said, has no interest in altering its position, but that doesn’t mean the position won’t change if a new board is elected and its members decide to take the union’s suggestion.
In the meantime, StandWithUs Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Julie Paris is urging Israel supporters to participate in a “buy-cott,” purchasing products from the Jewish state. PJC
David Rullo can be reached at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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