A CSU Wagga academic has been sensationally reinstated to her position after she was deemed to have been unfairly sacked by the university.
Dr Ann Lawless, a team leader in literacy, learning and numeracy at the Wagga campus, was terminated from her position in April for alleged under-performance.
But the Fair Work Commission yesterday found against the uni, ordering it to reinstate Dr Lawless to the position she held prior to her termination.
The university has also been ordered to provide back pay to Dr Lawless for the entire period between the unfair termination and reinstatement.
In reaching the decision, the FWC found that the university did not terminate her for a valid reason, and that her dismissal was “harsh, unreasonable and unjust and therefore unfair”.
National Tertiary Education Union NSW division secretary Genevieve Kelly said the outcome was “phenomenal”, as the commission rarely ordered that a terminated employee should be reinstated.
“We welcome this decision … and will unapologetically stand up for our members’ rights to be treated fairly by their employers,” she said.
