"I’m feeling positive. Obviously, the proof is going to be in the pudding now," Etu Union organiser Ann Galloway said yesterday.
Late last month, the company that owned the home, Seniorcare Nominees, came under fire for how management was working, including under a temporary manager, and hours being cut with little notice or explanation, although staff were expected to still perform the same tasks they had before.
Mrs Galloway said a staff meeting last week with management went well.
She said Seniorcare Nominees management were very keen to get problems "sorted out for everybody".
She said the issue with staff losing hours unexpectedly was put down to a mistake and staff were encouraged to approach management to get that matter addressed.
"It was a misunderstanding so they were told they just had to go and see the interim manager and hopefully she would would put things back to how they should be.
"When I left, they were all waiting to see her.
"To be fair they’ve had so many managers in the last few years they feel they have not really been listened to."
She was talking to management and expected matters to be addressed.Seniorcare director Vic Inglis, of Dunedin, had only recently taken over as the person in charge of Rendell on Reed Lifecare.
The company that ran the home said the company hoped to hire a new facility manager today, making that person the seventh manager the home had in two years.
The company had also hired former facility manager Linda Kennett as the new external manager, a decision which was greeted with cheers from staff, Mr Inglis said.
"The staff and patients love her. They loved her when she was there."
He described the meeting with staff as "genuine" and positive.
"We’ve got the staff buying into what we want to achieve."
He said the company would also put in place a profit-sharing scheme with staff from January 1, 2017.
