Unpaid staff at a Welsh marina had to resort to borrowing from mates and "maxed out" their credit cards to see themselves through Christmas.
The staff at Menai Strait marina made the claims and have suggested that half of employees have quit their jobs and some of those left cannot afford petrol to get to work.
The “horrendous” wage backlog at Port Dinorwic Marina, Y Felinheli, Gwynedd, prompted some of the site’s 180 berth owners to create a crowdfunding page. The JustGiving fundraiser, set up on January 2, to “support our hard working team”, has so far generated £490 above its £500 target. You can get more local news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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This is not the only place facing issues with North Wales Live reporting similar wage backlogs at four other sites owned by the Cardiff-based Marine & Property Group Ltd (MPG). There are claims that at least one member of staff has not received half of their October salary and that some have yet to receive their November pay.
MPG said much of November’s payroll had now been paid and December wages would also be honoured “in the coming days”. MPG owns several marinas including in Aberystwyth, Burry Port, Cardiff and Wachet in Somerset. It said it did “not envisage future issues”.
However, staff claimed wage backlogs had been an ongoing problem since March, 2022. “It’s ridiculous,” one group employee told North Wales Live, but did not wish to give their name. “Some staff have families with children and they weren’t paid ahead of Christmas. They’ve had to get loans, borrow from friends and family, and max out their credit cards. Many have mortgages to pay and are now two months behind. Everyone is struggling. Staff are supporting each other and, fortunately, we have the support of berth owners."
They added: “It’s simply unsustainable. This has been going on since March, with part payments and late payments. The company is saying it will pay outstanding wages but we’ve had almost a year of broken promises.”
It is understood four of the 10 staff at Port Dinorwic Marina have quit their jobs in frustration over delayed pay, and that less than half are up to date with what’s owed. Similar issues have been reported at Aberystwyth Marina, where berth owners called wage backlogs a “disgrace”.
Online fundraising efforts for Port Dinorwic Marina have so far been supported by 30 donors. One said: “Thank you for your loyalty keeping the marina functioning. Your employees don’t deserve you.”
The marina, which includes a range of food and beverage outlets, offices, shops and workshops, was acquired by MPG in July, 2017. In its latest accounts, for the 12 months to December, 2021, the company filed a turnover of £7.89m, a gross profit of £4.34m and earnings before taxes of more than £1.7m.
Chris Odling-Smee, an MPG director, said the group was “fundamentally profitable” with a strong balance sheet and a net asset position of in excess of £30million. But, he added: “A capital funding deal – due to illness of a solicitor and the Christmas break – was delayed and consequently this delayed salaries.
“Much of November’s payroll has been paid and December’s – only just due – will also be readily covered from daily trading in the coming days. Our capital deals allow for renewed growth and future acquisitions, and we do not envisage future issues.”
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