Australian Synchrotron Staff Lift Work to Rule Ban. (April 6, 2010)

 In a letter to management sent last week scientists at the Australian Synchrotron wrote: "Staff may now return to the voluntary contributions in excess of the standard 38 hour week on which the success of any synchrotron has, and will always, rely."

Since October 2009 discontent has been festering at Australia's national synchrotron facility because of serious differences between the scientific staff and the governing board^{1, 2}.

According to The Australian's Bernard Lane, the scientists wrote that they were suspending their ban because of its effect on researchers using the facility and because of "indications of recent progress by the board'' in that they had received assurances that a reconstituted scientific advisory committee would have a say in the selection of a new facility director with expertise in synchrotron science.

However, the made the point: "Many of the problems still remain, such as low staff morale across the organisation, low confidence in the board, damaged external perceptions of the facility, eroded management capacity, breakdown in the distinction between operational management and oversight responsibilities.

"The morale of all staff has been under immense pressure and we remain at risk of losing critical expertise, attracted and repatriated from both across the country and around the world, which is unusually difficult to replace.

"This challenge remains widespread in beamlines, accelerators, and across the rest of the facility. A synchrotron is more than bricks and mortar; it is reliant on its people to go above and beyond the call of duty to make it happen.''