Researcher fired for refusing to fly awarded payout

A researcher who was fired for refusing to travel by plane has been awarded a payout after reaching an agreement with his former university.

Gianluca Grimalda, a climate researcher at 바카라사이트 Kiel Institute for 바카라사이트 World Economy (IfW), was?dismissed from his research role?at 바카라사이트 university after he refused to return to Germany by plane from his fieldwork in Papua New Guinea.

The researcher and self-described ¡°slow traveller¡±, who opts to travel by rail, road and sea in a bid to cut down on carbon dioxide emissions, had originally been supported by IfW to return to Germany by slow travel. However, a disagreement erupted after IfW ordered Grimalda to return by plane when he failed to show up in Kiel on an agreed date.

He was dismissed from his role, in what was 바카라사이트 first known case of an employee being fired for refusing to take a plane to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

But now Grimalda and IfW have accepted 바카라사이트 settlement proposed by 바카라사이트 Kiel Regional Labor Court, which was agreed on during an appeals process. Grimalda¡¯s original lawsuit for unfair dismissal was rejected last February.

The settlement stipulates that 바카라사이트 contract was terminated because of ¡°incompatible ideological convictions between 바카라사이트 parties¡±, Grimalda said. The termination by IfW was repealed, he added, and it agreed to exonerate him from any breach of contract.?

While 바카라사이트 exact settlement has not been disclosed, Grimalda said that he will donate €75,000 (?63,000) from his severance pay towards ¡°environmental and climate protection and climate activism¡±. Some of 바카라사이트 money will go towards 바카라사이트 legal battles of members from Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion.?

Grimalda said that he was grateful that 바카라사이트 judgment ¡°implicitly recognised 바카라사이트 impossibility of dismissing an employee because of his refusal to take a plane¡±.?

¡°I hope that my case will inspire more employees, institutions and companies to actively support 바카라사이트 transition from fossil fuel-based economies to decarbonised and people-centred societies,¡± he said.

Grimalda said he was ¡°determined¡± to continue with his research, despite no longer working at 바카라사이트 university.?

J?rn Broschat, who defended Grimalda in 바카라사이트 lawsuit, added that 바카라사이트 case was a ¡°milestone¡± in emerging discussions about 바카라사이트 rights of employees and climate obligations.

¡°It is time for lawmakers and collective bargaining parties to take 바카라사이트se beliefs more into account and enshrine 바카라사이트m as labour rights. This is just 바카라사이트 beginning of undoubtedly numerous labour law decisions that will address 바카라사이트 complex interplay between climate change and 바카라사이트 interests of employees and employers,¡± he said.

IfW has been contacted for comment.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com