Full Breakdown
United Auto Workers Approve Divestment of $400,000 in Israeli Bonds
6/23/2026, 11:29:16 PM
Core Decision at the 39th Constitutional Convention
At the UAW’s 39th Constitutional Convention in Detroit, delegates representing roughly 1,000 local unions voted to divest the union’s estimated $400,000 held in Israeli government bonds. The resolution, passed by a majority of the 1,000 delegates, directs the union to withdraw the funds and to cease future purchases of Israel-issued securities.
Historical Context and Recent Catalysts
The UAW has a legacy of rank-and-file activism, including a 1978 divestment from South Africa and a December 2023 call for a Gaza ceasefire. A May 2024 vote by the UAW Executive Board—headed by President Shawn Fain—failed to secure divestment, reflecting earlier internal resistance. The successful 2024 vote followed intensified organizing after the 2023 Gaza conflict, which the union’s left-wing caucus, Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD), linked to broader anti-war and social-justice objectives.
Key Organizers and Figures
- Olga Karounos – UAWD member and public defender who introduced the amendment.
- Navruz Baum – Legal-services worker (Local 2325) and UAWD activist who coordinated the campaign.
- Shawn Fain – UAW President and member of the Executive Board that previously rejected divestment.
- UAWD and Labor for Palestine – Coalitions that framed the vote as solidarity with the Palestinian trade-union movement.
Quantitative Details
- Union membership: ~400,000 active members across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
- Prior Israeli bond holdings: approximately $750,000 invested without rank-and-file approval.
- Current divestment target: $400,000 in Israeli bonds.
- Delegates at convention: ~1,000 representing local unions nationwide.
Official Union Position and Responses
The adopted resolution condemns the “billionaire class” that profits from war and calls for redirecting public money toward healthcare, housing, and education. It cites the ongoing Gaza humanitarian crisis and the appeal from the Palestinian trade-union movement for international solidarity. The UAW’s Divestment and Just Transition working group, formed after the vote, will study the union’s economic ties to Israel and develop further policy recommendations.
Criticism and Internal Opposition
Several related proposals failed to secure votes, including measures to support workers striking to block weapons shipments to Israel, to set endorsement criteria for politicians, and to sever ties with Israel’s Histadrut labor federation. Union leadership reportedly attempted to block the broader agenda, limiting the outcome to the bond divestment alone.
Verbatim Quotes
- “this is going to send a message to – not just the billionaire class – but to politicians and any single person who is not afraid to stand up to genocide, to Netanyahu, to the United States government, and will put the UAW again on the map for standing up for international solidarity.” — Olga Karounos, UAWD member, public defender
- “This vote is part of our effort to honor the call from Palestinian trade unions to support Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) and refuse complicity in genocide,” — Navruz Baum, legal-services worker, UAW Local 2325
- “UAW leadership tried to block our entire agenda,” — Navruz Baum
- “But the success of the divestment amendment shows that more and more workers are realizing that the old playbook just won’t cut it.” — Navruz Baum
- “UAWD brought divestment to the Convention as part of a broader class struggle program that also included proposals to fight mass layoffs, resist ICE raids, and support workers who take action to stop weapons shipments to Israel,” — Navruz Baum
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
- May 2024 Executive Board vote: failed to achieve divestment, contrasting with the later delegate vote.
- No public statements from the UAW Executive Board or President Shawn Fain regarding the final resolution are provided in the sources.
- The exact timeline for reallocating the $400,000 and the mechanisms for future monitoring of Israeli-related investments remain unspecified.
What’s Next
The newly formed Divestment and Just Transition working group will draft recommendations on broader economic disengagement from Israel and related policy actions. Additional proposals—such as endorsing political candidates based on their stance toward the Israel-Palestine conflict—may be revisited at the union’s next constitutional convention.
