Dr. Theodore Binnema is the recipient of the Donald C. Savage Award | University of Northern British Columbia Faculty Association

Dr. Theodore Binnema

Dr. Theodore Binnema is the recipient of the Donald C. Savage Award
Apr 2, 2024

Nominations for the Donald C. Savage Award were reviewed by the CAUT Collective Bargaining and Organizing Committee at their March 2024 meeting. Members of the Committee recommended Theodore Binnema as the award recipient by consensus. In particular, Professor Binnema’s work as Chief Negotiator for the University of Northern British Columbia Faculty Association (UNBC-FA) and President of the CAUT Defence Fund make him a worthy recipient. As Chief Negotiator for the UNBC-FA from 2014-2021, Professor Binnema is credited with leading the association to achieving significant monetary gains in a particularly difficult institutional context through three protracted rounds of bargaining, two strikes, and three interest arbitrations. Beyond the local level, Professor Binnema has been active with the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of British Columbia (CUFA BC) through the chief bargainers’ committee, and with the CAUT Defence Fund, both as a Trustee for UNBC-FA and as President of the Defence Fund from 2018-2022. During that period, Professor Binnema helped to steer significant by-law changes through to completion that left the Fund in a better position to serve member interests. Overall, Professor Binnema’s longstanding contributions locally, provincially, and nationally have helped to advance the cause of collective bargaining in post-secondary education and his achievements are worthy of recognition.

Donald C. Savage Award

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SERVICES

Collective Bargaining

As the exclusive bargaining agent of academic staff, the UNBC-FA negotiates the terms and conditions of the Faculty Agreement (including salary and benefits) with the University’s Board of Governors.

Formal Grievances & Complaints/Member Advice

The UNBC-FA provides confidential advice and support to assist its members in informal resolution of conflicts, complaints and disputes, and through the filing of formal grievances where appropriate.

Evaluation, Tenure, Continuing Appointment & Promotion Processes

The UNBC-FA assists members in understanding UNBC’s performance evaluation, tenure/continuing appointment, and promotion processes on an individual basis or through information sessions and workshops. The UNBC-FA appoints committee representatives to various committees to ensure fairness and due process.

Confidentiality

UNBC-FA staff are employed by the Association, and both its staff and Executive Committee members will treat members and their issues and concerns with the utmost confidentiality.

SERVING MEMBERS

The UNBC-FA serves the interests of almost 500 full- and part-time members at UNBC’s Prince George and regional campuses. All faculty employed by UNBC-FA including tenured and tenure-track faculty members, senior lab instructors, librarians, and contract academic staff in all categories –are automatically members of the UNBC-FA and are entitled to receive its services.

The UNBC-FA acts as the sole bargaining agent for all UNBC-FA members, negotiating the terms and conditions of their employment as enshrined in the Faculty Association Collective Agreement. In addition, the UNBC-FA provides guidance and support for members throughout their employment, assisting with tenure and promotion, evaluation, and other processes. The association and its representatives play a vital role within collegial governance, consulting on all policies and procedures related to our members’ employment in research and teaching.

At the provincial and national level, the UNBC-FA represents the interests of its members and supports and promotes higher education through the Confederation of Faculty Associations of BC (CUFA-BC) and the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT).

Dr. Theodore Binnema is the recipient of the Donald C. Savage AwardApr 2, 2024