Australia’s synchrotron should shortly be going all out again, after its staff abandoned their work-to-rule protest.

The Australian Synchrotron in Melbourne has been beset by problems in recent times, with its director being fired, staff going on strike as a result, and calls for the resignation of the chairwoman of the facility’s governing board.

Now The Australian reports that the scientists who run the synchrotron’s beamlines have suspended their protest, which began in response to the sacking and issues with the governing board. In addition to “indications of recent progress by the board”, they cite the impact of the protest on those who use the facility as a reason for reinstating “the voluntary contributions in excess of the standard 38-hour week on which the success of any synchrotron has, and will always, rely”.

This is not to say that everything is now peachy. In their letter to management, seen by The Australian, the beamline staff say:

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

Previous coverage from Nature

Culture clash at Australian synchrotron – 8 December 2009

Australia’s synchrotron row accelerates – 10 December 2009

Synchrotron stand-off continues – 16 December 2009