Steve,
As informed as you may be, you can rest assured that the pay issues at Leuchars are not even close to being fully resolved. In the OM alone, there are more than a handful of staff well into 3-figures out of pocket, in some instances approaching 4.
You are right about the 'grown ups' knowing -
allegedly, one of the Staish's (ESS run?!?) staff had to be taken into town by Mrs Staish to arrange their first bank loan because of it.
If the involved/responsible 'grown ups' are indeed aware of this, surely that simply makes the problem more grave.
Touch-paper ignites & burns, retreat,
Uncle G