Update
KNYSNA NEWS - On Wednesday 26 July, staff members at Vermont Old Age Home halted work operations to hold a protest as their salaries have not been paid. Now, two weeks on, they are finally set to receive their payments.
The staff members said they had not been notified that their salaries would not be paid timeously, leaving them in an unfortunate position.
They have previously faced discrepancies in their pay due to administrative issues.
"We at Vermont are working with the best we can under the conditions," said Vermont Centre shop stewardess, Mugeleine Plaatjies on Thursday 27 July.
"We have to care for the residents here but our salaries have not been paid in, meaning we cannot take care of our own families. We were all unaware of this, but were told by our employers that we would be paid by the end of business day. It is a day later and staff have still not been paid. We want to know what's going on."
The delays in payment of salaries are due to administrative problems that arose after the previous board of the centre failed to hand over to the newly elected board, thus impacting the finances of the centre.
The Department of Social Development (DSD) is the intermediary between the Vermont board and financial resolutions cannot be made without the approval of DSD.
At the time of the protest, Vermont staff initially refused to continue work operations until they have been paid and stated that they only wished to deal with the current elected board.
"The staff are unhappy," said Plaatjies. "We are calling for the old board to step down immediately and effectively hand over to the new board. We want to know when we will be paid and why we were not told this would happen. The staff at Vermont are passionate about caring for the elderly and want to continue our service to the residents."
According to a previous board member of Vermont Old Age Home, John Bouwer, the situation is an administrative issue that the administration needs to attend to.
"All documents and files were withheld, which contain quarterly reports that had to be submitted to DSD in April already. Therefore DSD did not process any funding for salaries," he said.
A meeting was held on Tuesday 8 August between the Vermont board and staff members to encourage the staff to remain patient. In the interim, staff have continued to tend to residents in their care. DSD has confirmed that Vermont staff salaries will be issued on 11 August.
The staff and current board members of Vermont wish to be transparent on matters pertaining to the management of the old age centre and call for the public's support during this time.
READ MORE: Vermont staff on strike over salaries
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