A FORMER RSPCA ACT manager waiting for a judgment in his unfair dismissal claim said the departure of the animal charity's chief executive meant he had already won.
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Glenn Howie was sacked in October last year, four days after the public announcement that CEO Michael Linke was resigning from his position of eight years.
The former animal welfare executive manager said despite not being able to speak on all the background to the events of last spring, he left the Fair Work Commission hearing on March 11 feeling optimistic.
''We felt good about it,'' Mr Howie said.
''I came out feeling very positive that it was all over.
''If you boil it all down, we've won, because he's not there any more.''
His dismissal came because he allegedly provided confidential documents to his union, went to the media with accusations of animal cruelty by Mr Linke for concreting rabbit warrens, and spoke out against the boss on several workplace issues.
Mr Howie spoke with The Canberra Times on several occasions but was not quoted until October 19, the day after he was told of his dismissal.
An ACT government inspection found there was no cruelty when the rabbit holes were filled in - to a depth of about one metre - with concrete slurry. No dead rabbits were found.
Mr Linke had said the death of a couple of rabbits was an accepted risk, but that a small number of holes were concreted over for staff safety, not for pest eradication.
Mr Linke left the organisation in November and set up a Canberra-based consultancy company. His replacement Tammy Ven Dange took over as CEO last month.
A number of staff members gave evidence in the one-day hearing, including RSPCA ACT president Louise Douglas. Mr Linke was not called.
Mr Howie said he did not expect to return to work at the Weston headquarters - ''obviously the trust side is gone'' - but hoped for a finding that he was fired unfairly.
Consistent with comments from senior management including Ms Douglas in February, Mr Howie said staff he spoken with had told him morale had improved in recent months.
''They tell me that it's a totally different place to work,'' he said. ''And Tammy - who I've never met - is trying to get them all on side. I think she'll do well.''
Ms Douglas did not wish to respond to Mr Howie's comments.
