The Far Work Commission has found for university management in a dispute over its proposal to restructure the School of Social Sciences

The dispute was taken to the commission by Associate Professor Martin Forsey, a member of the anthropology-sociology group in the school, which is set to be all but abolished under management’s plan. AsPro Forsey argued management’s proposal breached the university’s enterprise agreement by not being definitive, not providing sufficient information “to facilitate informed engagement” and feedback and being based on partial and inaccurate information.

However Commissioner Williams found claims against the university are either outside the FWC’s jurisdiction or that UWA had met its Enterprise Agreement obligations.

This was always the likely outcome – that the National Tertiary Education Union did not go to the commission may indicate the comrades concluded UWA management had stuck to process.

This is a win for management and may discourage staff in the molecular science school, the next cab off the restructure rank to turn to the Commission (CMM November 4).

But it will add to the anguish in the UWA community at unpopular job losses and course changes to date, with the possibility of more contested school restructures in the new year.