The temporary Work and Income office operated out of the Wintec Building in Queen Street, Thames until Monday. Photo: Googlemaps
More than a dozen Ministry of Social Development staff walked off the job over what they say is an unsafe office with a ''strong mould and sewage smell".
Staff stopped working in the ministry's Thames Work and Income office on Monday, leaving 12,000 clients without a face-to-face service.
The office was supposed to be a temporary space, after the Ministry of Social Development closed its main office in Pollen Street in November 2023 because of damage.
But there's been ongoing issues with the temporary building.
Staff moved out for a period last year, and last month it was closed for three days for security and privacy upgrades.
The Public Service Association has now issued MSD with a Provisional Improvement Notice under the Health and Safety at Work Act, which requires the employer to address concerns about health and safety.
MSD has redeployed staff to Paeroa which is 33km away.
Thames Community Board chairperson Adrian Catran told Checkpoint the situation for clients trying to go to MSD was "terrible".
"Twelve thousand clients in and around Thames and in the Coromandel Peninsula are unable to have face-to-face contact with MSD in Thames."
Catran said it was "wrong" that Work and Income clients wanting to visit the office in person would have to travel to Paeroa.
"There is no actual transport available to just travel to Paeroa at the moment, so that means they have to find their own way."
MSD staff have been working in the temporary office for 18 months, even though the space was originally intended to be used as a solution for four weeks.
Catran said the temporary office has had issues over a long period.
"The building is not really fit-for-purpose and had shortcomings anyway. Now it appears that has manifested itself to a point that staff won't work there.
"It's had other problems in terms of the space is too small for 13 staff, for example, client privacy is not available within the building to the extent that a lot of clients wanted."
He said on a previous occasion the ceiling had collapsed in another room in the building.
The original MSD premises had been vacated because of black mould and water leaks, but had now reopened as a fruit shop, Catran added.
Last year, local MP Scott Simpson issued a statement saying it was unacceptable for people to have to travel to Paeroa to see Work and Income staff in person, which Catran said was still relevant today.
The Ministry of Social Development told Checkpoint the Thames Service Centre was temporarily closed on Monday and staff were redeployed to Paeroa Service Centre. They had access to vehicles for travel.
Acting Regional Commissioner, Sharlene Horne, said MSD was working through concerns about the building in conjunction with the landlord, while also working on securing new long-term premises that met the ministry's requirements.
Horne said MSD was working to reopen the Thames Service Centre as soon as possible but many of the Work and Income client conversations in Thames already happened over the phone, and she expected clients should still be able to complete their appointments.
Public Service Association national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons told Checkpoint there had been long-standing issues with the working environment at the Thames office which was supposed to be a temporary site.
These concerns came to a head on Monday, and health and safety representatives at the office had since issued MSD with the Provisional Improvement Notice.
She said the union was working on ensuring workers were not disadvantaged by any alternative options proposed, and that it would continue to support workers through this.
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