Ryan MacKenzie Grills College Official On Potentially Antisemitic Views Of Faculty's Union

6 months ago

During a House Education Committee hearing before the Congressional recess, Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) asked Chancellor of the City University of New York Dr. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez about antisemitic views from the college faculty's union.

Transcript

00:00Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I appreciate the fact that we're continuing our hearings about anti-Semitism in higher education

00:08because it continues to be a persistent problem that we see far too often.

00:13My first question is for Dr. Lyons. This is the Education and Workforce Committee.

00:19We just heard from the last questioner on our side of the aisle about the relationship with the union UAW Local 4811.

00:28at the UC system and how they have been engaging in explicitly political activity, demanding divestment from Israel.

00:39And you said that you don't support that.

00:41So what guardrails is the university going to put in place to make sure that collective bargaining is not used to push foreign policy demands?

00:51I'm not an expert in collective bargaining, but demands can be made.

01:03The other side of any negotiation is free to make demands.

01:07I think the position of the University of California has been clear and will continue to be clear.

01:13The gentleman will suspend.

01:23All in attendance are reminded in accordance with Rule 11, Clause 4 of the House of Representatives

01:28to observe standards of dignity, propriety, courtesy, and decorum traditionally observed by the House and this committee.

01:36The chair notes that there is this disturbance that takes place, but this committee will continue and will complete its planned hearing.

01:48I now recognize the gentleman from Pennsylvania to continue.

01:53Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman.

01:55And I would just go back to the questioning here.

01:58They can certainly make demands, but in a negotiation, if the administration stakes out a very clear position

02:05that they will not be accepting of foreign policy considerations being forced into a union negotiation,

02:11obviously that would help your leverage in this process and make it less likely that those things would go forward.

02:17Is that something that you're going to be willing to do?

02:19I just want to double underscore that the University of California position is that we will not be boycotting Israel or any country.

02:30That is my understanding of an already well-stated and clarified position.

02:34In any event, I can speak for myself, which is all I can speak for, in response to your question,

02:40and the answer is yes, that that position is that we should not go in that direction.

02:46Next, I'll go to Dr. Matos Rodriguez, and this is relating to the unions that are representing some of your faculty and staff on your campus.

02:57We have heard, and there was a Wall Street Journal opinion article just from last week,

03:03how labor unions are feeding the anti-Semitism on campus,

03:07and the unfortunate incidents where members of the faculty and staff from Israel to gain the representation that they seek in a union

03:16are being forced to sign up with a union that holds explicitly anti-Israel positions.

03:22And so I would like to understand what you might be willing to do to help those faculty and staff

03:28because of that exclusive representation provision.

03:32How do they accurately express their views in a college setting

03:38and make sure that the union, who is their representative, is not running counter to their own interests?

03:45Thank you for your question.

03:47Our first responsibility is to make sure that in our campuses,

03:53the freedom to express your opinion is as preserved,

03:56and individuals might have different perspectives as the ones you commented in your question need to be.

04:06Suspend.

04:07Time over.

04:07I don't know if it's appropriate, but I was expecting that one.

04:23I now recognize the gentleman to continue his questioning.

04:26So, having said that, the other part of that is that we expect everybody to conduct themselves,

04:34every faculty, staff member, and student at the City University of New York,

04:39with the almost level of professionalism and to abide by oral policies.

04:43So, our role is to make sure that we make those policies clear,

04:49that we make everybody understand that they have to abide by them,

04:52and if anybody breaks them, that we investigate and take the appropriate action.

04:57So, that would be our role in making sure that the policies against any kind of discrimination,

05:06against any kind of harassment, are not tolerated.

05:09And that's fine.

05:10I understand that.

05:11What is the recourse for an individual faculty member if the representative body is a union

05:18that holds explicitly positions that run counter to their own interests?

05:24Can that person go around that exclusive representation?

05:28Would you support that?

05:29Those individuals have the resources available to them privately.

05:34What we can do is make sure that the voice of the City University of New York

05:39as I mentioned to you, no tolerance of anti-Semitism,

05:43North Star of safety, that everybody in the university understands that,

05:49and it's safe to be able to...

05:50So, would you negotiate a contract with an individual not in the union?

05:55That is not something that we are allowed to do by law.

05:59But would you support that?

06:01Because, again, if the only representative body is one that is anti-Israel,

06:05and this faculty member is from Israel, you're putting that person in a catch-22.

06:11We are clear about what the positions of the university are.

06:14I have been very clear about my opposition to BDS,

06:18and I have traveled to Israel with our presidents and deans to show that it's not just a statement,

06:23that we are building bridges and connecting with universities and cultural organizations there.

06:29Our role is to make sure that we put together what the vision of the university is,

06:35and labor has, you know, they're independent, so that they don't speak for the university.

06:42The gentleman's time has expired.

06:44I now recognize the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Fine.

06:48Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

06:49I'm going to be honest.

Ryan MacKenzie Grills College Official On Potentially Antisemitic Views Of Faculty's Union

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