‘Great tension and resentment’: workers talk about the operation of the managed isolation facility

Concerned staff at a hotel where two workers hired Covid-19 have spoken out about their concerns about how the managed isolation facility is being managed.

Two workers tested positive for Covid-19 after contact with Russian and Ukrainian sailors staying at the Sudima Airport Hotel in Christchurch.

The operation and control of the isolation facilities are controlled by Managed Isolation and Quarantine, and not by the respective hotels.

One worker, who did not want to be identified for fear of being fired, told Newstalk ZB’s Chris Lynch: “The powers that be are paranoid and the culture is greatly exaggerated.”

“They are more concerned with controlling the message than providing immediate information to the staff members who work at the hotel.”

Another worker stated that they were “frustrated by the lack of information provided by the Ministry of Health.”

The worker said: “There is great tension and resentment within the hotel over how things are handled between the groups involved, including minimum wage private security companies ‘who do all the heavy lifting’ plus police officers, who have their own room. , nurses and other health personnel provided by the Canterbury District Health and Aviation Safety Board.

“The nurses are great, but like many staff members, they work 12-hour shifts, which is difficult.”

But a spokeswoman for Managed Isolation and Quarantine said regular and prompt communications have been provided to staff working at Sudima Christchurch Airport and that their well-being is a priority for them.

The spokeswoman said the Christchurch MIQ team received the positive test result from the first worker at 4 pm on Nov. 2 and a letter was sent to staff at 6.37 pm.

“A follow-up letter with advice on the tests was sent to staff at 5pm on November 3.”

One worker stated that there is a large contingent of NZ Defense Forces army personnel who “basically walk around the perimeter from time to time and play cards, watch movies all day and night. Every now and then. , they can order Uber Eats. “

“The NZ Defense Forces personnel are just political optics. They hate being there and are very bored. It is security who does most of the work and they are the lowest paid by a wide margin.”

The worker claimed that more and more public sector workers are replacing security guards, and many people are angry about that.

“Long-standing security especially is being replaced by inexperienced soldiers with much higher salaries. This is where the cracks in the system will widen over time.

“Having brushes stuck up your nose every week and checking your ears every day while receiving minimum wage is the marrow of frustration, there is no dangerous money.”

The MIQ spokeswoman said the number of hired security companies dropped from 18 to six.

“This drop in contracts is due to the streamlining of security requirements in managed isolation and quarantine facilities and increased support with New Zealand Defense Force personnel.

“We are investigating the comments [about NZDF staff] that have been performed to determine truthfulness. If a case of bad discipline is demonstrated, it will be treated. “

PPE is uncomfortable and some of the staff wear it 12 hours a day, excluding meal breaks, the worker said.

There are wellness kits provided by the Canterbury District Board of Health that “are perhaps the busiest, taking care of guest needs and travel logistics,” they said.

Many are former Air New Zealand crewmembers due to their public relations skills.

“Contact with guests in Sudima is very limited and contact is highly regulated.”

MIQ spokesperson confirmed that former Air New Zealand, Jetstar and Virgin Australia flight attendants are being used as staff on the wellness team due to their excellent communication skills.

An ambulance worker, who was also nervous to speak, said they are not surprised that the Covid-19 cases “come from that building.”

“We picked up some people from there. The staff were definitely not wearing the correct PPE to deal with confined Covid. This was just a matter of time.

“Staff on the ground have raised concerns and I really hope the site will be thoroughly investigated.”

“St John, as a company, has taken Covid-19 very seriously, providing advanced and correct training and PPE. We are leading from the front and it is frustrating to see other organizations not receiving the same training.”

If we don’t stick together during this pandemic, we will fail, they said.

The Sudima Christchurch Airport facility operates with strict infection prevention control protocols at all times, the MIQ spokesperson said.

“If there is any evidence of non-compliance with our infection prevention control protocols, we will investigate, but we will not be able to respond to undocumented claims.”

A Sudima Hotels spokeswoman said they could not comment on the Health Ministry processes.

“Hotels that operate as MIQ facilities are not responsible for medical checks, logistics or security.”

Sudima Hotels takes the health and safety of its employees seriously and follows strict guidelines set by the ministry, the spokeswoman said.

“Including the highest standards of hygiene. Hotel staff must wear PPE at all times, both in the front and the back of the house.

“Hotel employees are separated from the rest of the agency staff at all times. Physical distance from guests is maintained at all times.”