Jewish graduate students and academic experts testified before Congress this week, exposing widespread antisemitism within university labor unions. Allegations included forced union membership, denial of religious accommodations, and union-backed support for anti-Israel protests that have left Jewish students feeling threatened and isolated.
On September 10, 2025, the House Education and the Workforce Committee heard testimonies from students at MIT, Stanford, and Cornell detailing disturbing trends of union-linked antisemitism. Witnesses reported being forced into union membership by the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America (UE), with mandatory dues funding political activities aligned with the anti-Israel BDS movement.
At MIT, union leaders reportedly supported the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment,” which occupied parts of the campus, blocked access to buildings, and promoted antisemitic rhetoric. Jewish students said the encampments created a hostile learning environment, yet the union refused to represent their concerns. Similar issues were raised at Stanford, where students were denied religious exemptions from dues despite the union’s open support of BDS—a movement widely condemned as antisemitic.
Testimonies also highlighted that some unions have partnered with radical activist groups, further politicizing academic environments and isolating Jewish students. Faculty and administrators have largely remained silent, according to the witnesses, while union activists continue to push one-sided, anti-Israel narratives on campuses.
The House committee, chaired by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), has broadened its investigation into how campus culture—shaped by DEI programs, academic departments, and organized labor—has become hostile toward Jews. This week’s hearing followed earlier inquiries into university leadership, DEI offices, and federally funded academic centers. Foxx reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to holding institutions accountable for failing to protect Jewish students.
These testimonies come amid rising antisemitic incidents across American colleges, particularly following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. A March 2025 poll revealed that 74% of Jewish college students believe antisemitism is now rampant on their campuses.
