diff --git a/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/workspace/server/GWTWorkspaceServiceImpl.java b/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/workspace/server/GWTWorkspaceServiceImpl.java
index 12557b4..6686939 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/workspace/server/GWTWorkspaceServiceImpl.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/workspace/server/GWTWorkspaceServiceImpl.java
@@ -116,10 +116,6 @@ public class GWTWorkspaceServiceImpl extends RemoteServiceServlet implements GWT
 	public static final String SELECTION_STATE_ATTRIBUTE = "WORKSPACE.SELECTION_STATE";
 	protected Logger workspaceLogger = Logger.getLogger(GWTWorkspaceServiceImpl.class);
 
-	// for the data catalogue
-	private static final String CKAN_ROLE = "ckanRole"; // a true value means the user has admin role, false means member
-	private static final String CKAN_ORGANIZATIONS_PUBLISH_KEY = "ckanOrganizationsPublish"; // here he can publish
-
 	/**
 	 * Gets the GWT workspace builder.
 	 *
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/workspace/server/util/UserUtil.java b/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/workspace/server/util/UserUtil.java
index 5f7eee1..a4d9486 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/workspace/server/util/UserUtil.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/workspace/server/util/UserUtil.java
@@ -208,6 +208,9 @@ public class UserUtil {
 					// get highest role
 					RolesCkanGroupOrOrg correspondentRoleToCheck = getLiferayHighestRoleInOrg(roles);
 
+					if(correspondentRoleToCheck.equals(RolesCkanGroupOrOrg.MEMBER))
+						continue;
+
 					checkIfRoleIsSetInCkanInstance(username, gCubeGroupName, correspondentRoleToCheck, workspaceInstance,
 							groupManager, gCubeGroup.getGroupId(), orgsInWhichAtLeastEditorRole);
 				}
@@ -229,6 +232,9 @@ public class UserUtil {
 					// get highest role
 					RolesCkanGroupOrOrg correspondentRoleToCheck = getLiferayHighestRoleInOrg(roles);
 
+					if(correspondentRoleToCheck.equals(RolesCkanGroupOrOrg.MEMBER))
+						continue;
+
 					checkIfRoleIsSetInCkanInstance(username, gCubeGroupName, correspondentRoleToCheck, workspaceInstance,
 							groupManager, gCubeGroup.getGroupId(), orgsInWhichAtLeastEditorRole);
 				}
@@ -283,7 +289,7 @@ public class UserUtil {
 		// if there is an instance of ckan in this scope..
 		if(catalogue != null){
 			boolean res = catalogue.checkRoleIntoOrganization(username, gCubeGroupName, correspondentRoleToCheck);
-			
+
 			if(res && !correspondentRoleToCheck.equals(RolesCkanGroupOrOrg.MEMBER)){
 				// get the orgs of the user
 				List<CkanOrganization> ckanOrgs = catalogue.getOrganizationsByUser(username);