Comment 3 for bug 367886

So, I presume that "Desktop Effects" are enabled? This probably means that your window manager is compiz (instead of the stock GNOME window manager, Metacity). Compiz and Metacity handle multiple desktops differently at an architectural level - this might be the reason that it's not working as expected. I'm going to ask one of the Awn developers who has a better grasp of how multiple desktops work in different window managers to comment.