9 reasons you should attend the COCAL XI Conference

 

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COCAL Conferences

Conferences are held every other year, alternating between the North American countries in the coalition. Conferences feature simultaneous translation into English, French, and Spanish. Presentations have ranged from neoliberalism and the effects of globalization on academia to regional and local issues at particular colleges.

Click here for information on past conferences

 

 

COCAL X Conference reports and photo galleries

The tenth annual COCAL Conference was held in Mexico City, on the campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico from August 9 through August 12, 2012.


Click here to view the COCAL X Conference coverage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COCAL XI in New York City
August 4-6, 2014

Shaping an Equitable & Democratic Future For Higher Education—The Way Forward

 

Notes from Interest Group Discussions

Notes from Student Interest Group Discussion

Summary: National Agendas/Democracy Index

 

Report on COCAL XI by Linda Chan


John Jay College
City University of New York (CUNY)   

 

Conference Program

The goal of COCAL XI is to emerge with ideas, strategies, and campaigns for action. Since we a diverse group geographically and structurally, it is unlikely there will be one-size-fits-all solutions. However, there is much we share, and

becoming aware of various problems and approaches can enrich our movement. For this reason, the plenaries and interest groups will be constituted as working groups that will use our two-day discussions to formulate approaches, and on the third day, report on winning strategies and new frameworks.

Monday, August 4

9:30-11:00 Registration (Exhibits of books by and about contingency)

11:00-12:45 Lunch & Welcome Introductions of Facilitators/Union sponsors/Host committee
Welcome by President of Professional Staff Congress, Barbara Bowen; and the Presidents of Mexican Education Unions, hosts of COCAL X in Mexico City: Bertha Rodriguez (AAPAUNAM) & Agustin Rodriquez (STUNAM)

Poems by Vicki Moss

1:00-3:15 p.m. Plenary 1
What’s Going on in Higher Education? A Trinational Perspective
• How have contingent academics affected higher education?
• What is the potential power of this group?
• Is an international movement possible or desirable?
• How can it evolve?
• What role should COCAL play?

Maria Peluso-CUPFA (Moderator)
Cindy Oliver – FPSE
Sylvain Marois – FNEEQ-CSN


Stanley Aronowitz--CUNY Graduate School
Maria Teresa Lechuga- UNAM-STUNAM
Maria Maisto-NFM

3:15-3:30 Break

3:30 -5:45 Interest Group Discussions–Part 1
Continued in two subsequent sessions in order to get into in-depth discussions and to bring to General Assembly on Wednesday. Participants have a choice of choosing three different sessions or remaining in one:

Legal (Unemployment Law/Health Insurance/Discrimination Based on Race, Gender and Union Activity)
Students (Undergraduates and Graduates/Tuition/Debt)
Media (Press, Social/TV/Narratives)
Building National Agendas (Unions and Associations)
Bargaining for Equity (Governance/Seniority/Salary/Pensions)

6:00-8:00 Reception with wine and music

Tuesday, August 5

8:30-9:30 Breakfast: Book talks

9:30-11:00 Plenary 2

Inside the Academy: The Cutting Edge
• What has changed since COCAL X in 2012?
• Struggles for equity
• New collaborations

Susan diRaimo--Moderator
Malini Cadambi Daniels- SEIU Metro Strategy
Donna Nebenzahl-CUPFA
Arturo Ramos-STAUACH
Alyssa Picard-AFT
Susan Michalczyk-AAUP


11:00-12:15 Interest Group Discussions—Part 2
Legal (Unemployment Law/Health Insurance/Discrimination Based on Race, Gender and Union Activity)
Students (Undergraduates and Graduates/Tuition/Debt)
Media (Press, Social/TV/Narratives)
Building National Agendas (Unions and Associations)
Bargaining for Equity (Governance/Seniority/Salary/Pensions)

12:30-1:45 Lunch
Moderator – Holly Clarke-PSC
Craig Flannery-AAUP –Campus Equity Week
Maria Teresa Lechuga-STUNAM & Rosa Manoatl-AAPAUNAM- on their research work on contingent faculty

2:00-3:30 Plenary 3
Outside the Academy: Lessons from Organizing Contingent Workers in Various Industries
• How have workers gained power?
• What has worked?
• What have been the surprises?
• What’s next?
• How can we network to our mutual advantage?

Moderator: Michael Fabricant, PSC
Deborah Axt – Make The Road By Walking
Dougal Macdonald – CUPE
Edgar Belmont –Electricians Union of Mexico
Lilia Abarca – CNTE /Mexico
Larry Goldbetter-National Writers Union

3:00-5:30 Interest Group Discussions—Part 3
Legal (Unemployment Law/Health Insurance/Discrimination Based on Race, Gender and Union Activity)
Students (Undergraduates and Graduates/Tuition/Debt)
Media (Press, Social/TV/Narratives)
Building National Agendas (Unions and Associations)
Bargaining for Equity (Governance/Seniority/Salary/Pensions)

6:00 -10 p.m. Dinner Boat Cruise around Manhattan

Wednesday, August 6

9:00-9:45 Breakfast: History of COCAL

10:00-1:00 Report Back from Discussion Groups to General Assembly
• Is there a way to consolidate our power tri-nationally? Locally?
• Can we map our strategic directions so as to be useful for everyone?
• What is next?

Moderators: David Rives-AFT & Helena Worthen, NWU/UAW

1:15- 2:15 Box Lunch

2:30-4:30 Post-Conference Meeting of COCAL Local Organizing Committee and COCAL International Advisory Committee

Moderators: Weldon Cowan-FPSE, Mayra Besosa-AAUP, Vinnie Tirelli-PSC