Thomas Grundnigg was fired after 13 years at the FH, eight of them as head of department and professor of multimedia art. It happened suddenly and without warning, he says. Another colleague was dismissed at the same time.

Throwing out with security: “Hopphop in single file”

The manner in which this is done raises a number of questions, says Grundnigg: “After the bachelor’s exams, a very well-known colleague and I were prevented from leaving the room. We were asked by four people to sit down again. We have something to be told. There was also a man from security with us. We were instructed very quickly that we would be terminated and taken off duty. The security man then gave us the words: Hopphopp, single file to the office! We can then quickly pack everything up and leave the FH. “

“Movie-ready scenes”

The reasons given by the FH managing director Doris Walter do not justify the resignation in the eyes of the professor. Grundnigg has sued the labor court, the proceedings are ongoing. The FH argued, for example, with courses that had been canceled 15 minutes earlier.

Grundnigg says that the way in which employees at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences are dealt with by the management is “completely inhuman”. You won’t find it anywhere else: “It’s ready for a movie.”

“Fear and horror among servants”

Research by the ORF shows that professors at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences have been terminated time and again in recent years. Grundnigg sees a “hire-and-fire” personnel policy of the management: “That leads to fear and horror among colleagues. Many call me and congratulate me on getting up now, speaking out and going to court. But many do not want to say anything in public. Anyone can be hit at any time. Without giving a reason you are suddenly gone. “

The rectorate was also not involved in the personnel decision, said the ex-professor.

No opinion from the owner

The Salzburg University of Applied Sciences is owned by the black and red social partners: the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Labor. Spokespersons for the two institutions do not want to comment on the manner in which the dismissals were made – by Doris Walter, the managing director nominated by the Salzburg Chamber of Labor.

Regarding the question of the internally simmering power struggle between the management and the rectorate of the FH, the owners of the Chamber of Labor and the Chamber of Commerce refer to an ongoing structural reform that has not yet been completed.

Managing Director nominated by the Chamber of Labor

The manager Walter did not want to give the ORF an interview on the subject either. In writing, she let it be known that staff turnover at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences was generally low. And they do not comment on ongoing personnel matters in public.