FPSE is co-sponsoring the COCAL VII conference set to take place August 10-13, 2006 at Simon Fraser University's Harbour Centre campus in the heart of downtown Vancouver. This is the seventh biennial North American conference on contingent academic labour issues. The conference is co-sponsored by FPSE, UBCFCA, TSSU, CUPE and CAUT.

The theme of the three day conference is "The Next Five Years: Casualization & globalization of labour, academic freedom, and organizing strategies - from the local to the global". The conference agenda is available on the web at www.caut.ca/cocal

Who Should Go?

COCAL VII is an excellent opportunity for regular and non-regular members to become better informed about the issues and challenges facing all faculty in the post-secondary system today. If you are a union leader, a non-regular faculty member, or just interested in the future of post-secondary education, this conference is for you.

The FPSE will have a significant presence at the conference. Rory Wallace, Tom Friedman and other FPSE representatives are scheduled to speak at the conference on issues related to non-regular faculty and the work of the FPSE in this area.

What is COCAL?

The coalition of contingent academic labour (COCAL) is a floating conference and a network of North American activists working to improve higher education through collective achievement of job security, liveable wages, academic freedom and time and resources for academic research and professional development for contingent academic labourers. COCAL promotes grassroots contingent faculty organizing through events like Campus Equity Week but is not affiliated with any single labour union.

How Do I Register?

To register by mail or fax, save, print and complete the registration document and mail it with your cheque or money order made payable to "COCAL VII Vancouver" to the

UBC Faculty Association
112-1924 West Mall
Vancouver, BC
V6T 1Z2

Forms can also be faxed (604) 222-0174 or emailed bg@interchange.ubc.ca and cheques mailed separately.

Registration is only $130 CDN before May 1, 2006.

Where Can I Get More Information?

To get more information on the conference you can go to the COCAL VII website at www.caut.ca/cocal or contact Weldon Cowan at the FPSE. Weldon can be reached by email at wcowan@fpse.ca or by phone at (604) 873-8988.