5 days ago
Glasgow Film Theatre board members quit after Israel boycott decision
On Thursday, The National told how Glasgow Film – the company which runs the GFT – said it would not fully endorse either the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement or the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI).
Glasgow Film said this was in order to retain "independent decision making" and uphold its "commitment to Cinema For All".
READ MORE: 'Do something!': Question Time audience member in fiery row with Labour MP on Israel
Now, three members of the GFT board have resigned, raising concerns about the processes leading to the decision.
Dr Sarah Wishart, one of the members who quit, claimed the board had not signed off on any letters or statements regarding the decision before they had been sent to staff and the media.
On Thursday, Wishart shared a statement on social media, which the three members read out during a board meeting on Tuesday.
It reads: "Unfortunately, due to the decision making and processes leading up to this evening, we have no choice but to resign from the board of Glasgow Film Theatre, effective immediately.
"This is a decision which we undertook with great thought, care and consideration.
"We recognised our responsibility as board members, and wished to see issues related to BDS/PACBI through to their conclusion.
"However, we cannot, in good conscience, continue to serve on the board of the GFT.
"In addition to our concerns related to governance and decision-making processes, we are also deeply concerned about the attitude the GFT has shown towards our unionised workers.
READ MORE: Gaza ceasefire talks continue as Israel issues forced displacement orders
"We intend to follow this statement with individual written resignations to formally conclude our time on the board."
Earlier this year, front-of-house and cleaning staff at the GFT staged a boycott on handling any goods connected to the BDS movement, which resulted in Coca-Cola products no longer being served.
Campaign group Art Workers for Palestine Scotland then published an open letter to the GFT calling for the cinema to adhere to the BDS movement and endorse PACBI.
The letter was signed by more than 1400 people and included the likes of Ghassan Abu-Sittah, rector of the University of Glasgow and filmmaker Ken Loach.
Glasgow Film has been contacted for comment.
