Pay woes at Pacificare

Photo: SHANE WENZLICK

SHOW US THE MONEY: Former employees of Pacificare Resthome and Hospital protest outside the Mangere hospital after failing to receive their final two weeks’ pay.

Problems continue to mount for Mangere's Pacificare Resthome and Hospital with former employees complaining they've not received their final wages.

About 100 former employees protested on Wednesday outside the locked gates of Pacificare, also known as Blue Dove Health, demanding their wages and entitlements be paid.

They say they're still owed two weeks' wages, annual leave entitlements and five days' pay after being given one week's notice instead of two as stipulated in their contract.

Pacificare staff resource administrator Rohini Chand says a long-running dispute over who actually employed the staff has caused the problem.

Guardian Trust, the mortgagee in possession of Pacificare, and staffing contractor Mangere East Medical Services Trust (MET) are both pointing the finger at each other, she says.

"Guardian, which held the contracts for the hospital, paid MET who then transferred wages into employees' accounts - but a hold has been put on the account so Guardian can't transfer the funds.

"Guardian eventually paid staff their wages from its own account but had all the staff sign a letter saying it was a loan."

A statement released by Guardian Trust yesterday says staff were employed by the Mangere East Med-
ical Care Services Trust.

It says Guardian had an agreement with the trust to employ staff until January 31 and any questions about staff wages should be referred to MET.

"Guardian Trust was mortgagee in possession of the assets of Pacificare Trust, operator of the Pacificare Rest Home until February 3.

"Staff engagements with MET ended on January 31 and the facility is now closed."

A spokesperson for the Mangere East Medical Services Care Trust could not be reached for comment.

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