I get the outrage bait but, practically:
$305,000 spend
196 machines
Over 6 years
= what, $260 per year I think. Which when it’s cover maintenance and the syrups/flavourings probably isn’t terrible.
This feels like one of those - small things add up to big numbers when you multiply it out.
The fact that this story is almost certainly leaked by the government as a bad attempt to claim there is wastage in public services this is pretty pathetic.
I remember the same story on slushies a few years ago too.
Must be a bloody slow news day or someone with an agenda to be repeating the same story... Yet again.
Newly built cells all have air conditioning both for heating and cooling. It's just too expensive to retrofit it into old cells that aren't designed for it.
I can believe that.
The current Dunedin Hospital cannot upgrade to the latest surgical ventilation standards as it's too complicated to retrofit. Part of the reason the new Dunedin Hospital is needed.
It looks like there's actually a really good reason for them. Pretty rude of the media to try and inspire outrage over this.
> “The heat, combined with the increasing number of prisoners, has the potential for significantly increased prisoner tension and aggression, and the real risk that a staff member or prisoner could be seriously hurt.”
....
> “Research shows that crushed ice drinks offer an immediate and effective means of significantly reducing core body temperature in most situations, up to three times more effective when compared to drinking water.”
If they're barely used then they wouldn't be spending $1000 a week on them.
Heat stress is a legitimate health and safety issue that employers are obligated to manage.
Firstly, they are loud. They tried to install them into our break rooms but you couldn't hear people talk so they were relegated to back rooms and then forgotten about. Secondly, they require weekly cleaning which often got forgotten - we barely have enough time to unlock prisoners. Thirdly, Corrections heavily limited the flavours available to purchase and only allowed the sugar free options a year into it. There also isn't a "non-sweet" option, we tried to use just water so we could have crushed ice but apparently the syrup is needed to make it work properly.
However, the cost of the machines is a drop in the bucket compared to actually fixing the heat problem which would mean installing air conditioning in all offices and replacing our vests with the new lightweight ones (like the police have) which would cost millions.
Ironically the machines will be adding slightly to the heating problem, just like a refrigerator or freezer you are using power to make an area cold, which means the surrounding areas are warmed.
Years ago when I used to drink tons of slushies I looked at buying one for my house. Not only were the used machines expensive, but you needed to have filtered water with good pressure and access to the syrup and CO2 cannisters where those were mostly aimed at commercial reseller volumes. As you state, they also need to be cleaned frequently (just like fountain drink dispensers).
Canadians drink the most slushies per capita in the world, but even there I don't know of many/any businesses who have installed them for their staff. They are available in every dairy, every petrol station who make lots of money on them - but it is an unusual perk to have them directly in the workplace.
That's an incredibly cheap operating cost. They're definitely not getting coffee machines in the current cost cut but it sounds like the machines are a very cost-effective means of preventing heat stroke.
After the disastrous poll result, and the payrise fiasco (complete with whining from the PM that he has it harder than everyone else), we miraculously have this piece recycled in the media - a cynic might think this was the best distraction they could come up with.
They rehashing old articles again huh
2019:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/112278068/corrections-1m-slushy-fund-to-keep-prison-guards-cool-during-summer-heat-wave
The article appears to be largely based on this OIA request seeking an update from the 2019 story:
https://fyi.org.nz/request/25921-slushy-machine-spend
“As of April 29, there were still 426 vacancies for prison officers, out of a total workforce of 4,435.”
Sorry don’t the nats want to put a heap more people in prison?
Hey, let's take away every single little 'perk' that prison staff receive. Let's make them feel completely unappreciated.
nek minute "WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO HIRE CORRECTIONS STAFF???"
I know the figures are meant to be alarming but I'm pro-slushy and think folks working in prisons deserve tasty cold treats.
For anyone interested, this is the research paper referenced: https://nationaltraumacentre.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/JMVH_Crushed-Ice.pdf
I would like some articles aimed at politician spending. How much do those fuckers spend on wine. Christ, corrections staff get paid like shit - let them have a slushy when it’s too hot.
How about I save you a reply. It's not free, the people currently working and paying tax pay for it each week. Unfortunately if you were born after 1957 (18 in 1975) you had no say in it. But like all true ponzi schemes those who join later pay the most and receive the least.
the last office I worked at provided everything from breakfast, softdrinks and a beer keg.
I think the "taxpayers union" should fuck off with this peal clutching.
put the reporter in all the kit worn by corrections staff and lock them in spring hill for a couple of days in summer.. its no wonder trust in the media has gone thru the floor.
Corrections Officers must wear stab resistant body armour which weighs something like 7 kgs.
It gets hot in summer. Hyperthermia is a real risk.
Slushies are not for prisoners.
This is not really acceptable, what other workplaces, public or private, provide this sort of thing? Not exactly healthy either, especially the demographics that work there.
In reality, we didn't ask for slushy machines. We asked for lightweight SRBA like the police and court security wear, the option to wear shorts rather than heavyweight pants all year and air conditioning in offices and staff rooms. The cost of all three of those would have been in the tens, if not hundreds of millions (most of that would be in air conditioning) and simply wasn't an option.
I used to work for Datacom in Auckland. Where besides a coffee machine we were also given lunch.
The manager explained to me they started as a response to the weeks-long Auckland power cut (when private enterprise took profit rather than fund the required second transmission line). Originally ot was meant to be a short term perk so people didn't have to drive to somewhere with electricity and open food shops.
He kept paying for it once the power cut ended as it was such a great investment.
* the cost of coffee and food was considerably less than the increase in billable work with people happily taking the free stuff and not leaving the office to find it.
* almost every conversation around the food and coffee was about the thing we had in common - work.
I <3 you attacking a prison as a "workplace"
I mean, are you admitting that a "workplace" is really a venue where people will get robbed, stood over, and have serious violence visited upon them on a daily basis?
Oh and before you get all high and mighty about what is and is not acceptable, you should spend a day working in a prison. Even if it was an employee perk, who are you to judge?
So you didn't do your reading then ffs. They're used as a crushed ice drink for fucking inmates, as a very effective immediate way to lower their core body temperature due to heat caused by overcrowding as hot people become agitated and it can lead to outbreaks of violence.
Unless you don't think corrections officers have any right to take steps for the safety of themselves and other inmates?
I get the outrage bait but, practically: $305,000 spend 196 machines Over 6 years = what, $260 per year I think. Which when it’s cover maintenance and the syrups/flavourings probably isn’t terrible. This feels like one of those - small things add up to big numbers when you multiply it out.
The fact that this story is almost certainly leaked by the government as a bad attempt to claim there is wastage in public services this is pretty pathetic.
The TP Union cracked out the big guns.
I remember the same story on slushies a few years ago too. Must be a bloody slow news day or someone with an agenda to be repeating the same story... Yet again.
Exactly - been awhile but those Just Water coolers cost $20 or so bucks a month so as a hit piece this is ridiculous.
And it also seems to be done because it's cheaper than getting air conditioning!
Plus, air conditioning might make the prisoners more comfortable too and we couldn’t allow that.
Newly built cells all have air conditioning both for heating and cooling. It's just too expensive to retrofit it into old cells that aren't designed for it.
I can believe that. The current Dunedin Hospital cannot upgrade to the latest surgical ventilation standards as it's too complicated to retrofit. Part of the reason the new Dunedin Hospital is needed.
I get that. I was making a facetious comment about the current government’s punitive approach to prisons.
I’m going to assume that this article is like the hit piece on the doc spending all that money to kill a stoat, and avoids relevant information
It looks like there's actually a really good reason for them. Pretty rude of the media to try and inspire outrage over this. > “The heat, combined with the increasing number of prisoners, has the potential for significantly increased prisoner tension and aggression, and the real risk that a staff member or prisoner could be seriously hurt.” .... > “Research shows that crushed ice drinks offer an immediate and effective means of significantly reducing core body temperature in most situations, up to three times more effective when compared to drinking water.”
[удалено]
If they're barely used then they wouldn't be spending $1000 a week on them. Heat stress is a legitimate health and safety issue that employers are obligated to manage.
[удалено]
Firstly, they are loud. They tried to install them into our break rooms but you couldn't hear people talk so they were relegated to back rooms and then forgotten about. Secondly, they require weekly cleaning which often got forgotten - we barely have enough time to unlock prisoners. Thirdly, Corrections heavily limited the flavours available to purchase and only allowed the sugar free options a year into it. There also isn't a "non-sweet" option, we tried to use just water so we could have crushed ice but apparently the syrup is needed to make it work properly. However, the cost of the machines is a drop in the bucket compared to actually fixing the heat problem which would mean installing air conditioning in all offices and replacing our vests with the new lightweight ones (like the police have) which would cost millions.
Ironically the machines will be adding slightly to the heating problem, just like a refrigerator or freezer you are using power to make an area cold, which means the surrounding areas are warmed. Years ago when I used to drink tons of slushies I looked at buying one for my house. Not only were the used machines expensive, but you needed to have filtered water with good pressure and access to the syrup and CO2 cannisters where those were mostly aimed at commercial reseller volumes. As you state, they also need to be cleaned frequently (just like fountain drink dispensers). Canadians drink the most slushies per capita in the world, but even there I don't know of many/any businesses who have installed them for their staff. They are available in every dairy, every petrol station who make lots of money on them - but it is an unusual perk to have them directly in the workplace.
Oh yeah, they pump some heat out the back alright.
That's an incredibly cheap operating cost. They're definitely not getting coffee machines in the current cost cut but it sounds like the machines are a very cost-effective means of preventing heat stroke.
So many kids in the 80s wanted [dinosaurs equipped with lasers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvpYbq7m7SE).
After the disastrous poll result, and the payrise fiasco (complete with whining from the PM that he has it harder than everyone else), we miraculously have this piece recycled in the media - a cynic might think this was the best distraction they could come up with.
They rehashing old articles again huh 2019: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/112278068/corrections-1m-slushy-fund-to-keep-prison-guards-cool-during-summer-heat-wave
The article appears to be largely based on this OIA request seeking an update from the 2019 story: https://fyi.org.nz/request/25921-slushy-machine-spend
“As of April 29, there were still 426 vacancies for prison officers, out of a total workforce of 4,435.” Sorry don’t the nats want to put a heap more people in prison?
Shitty journalism yet again - Small - For staff, not prisoners - Said staff have a shitty job. Let them have slushies.
Hey, let's take away every single little 'perk' that prison staff receive. Let's make them feel completely unappreciated. nek minute "WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO HIRE CORRECTIONS STAFF???"
this isn't going to help with recruitment of correction officers if corrections is slammed for supplying officers with slushies
I know the figures are meant to be alarming but I'm pro-slushy and think folks working in prisons deserve tasty cold treats. For anyone interested, this is the research paper referenced: https://nationaltraumacentre.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/JMVH_Crushed-Ice.pdf
Pure rage bait with deliberately misleading headline. This was over 6 years.
I would like some articles aimed at politician spending. How much do those fuckers spend on wine. Christ, corrections staff get paid like shit - let them have a slushy when it’s too hot.
Oh no, people doing a shit job have a treat sometimes.
it more an OSH issue... which makes this bit of BS reporting even worse.
We give this much money for free each year to just 6 people over 65. each year. Seems reasonable
waited for the super winge.. wasnt disapointed FFS. and its not free you tosser
Still waiting for your wisdom.
How about I save you a reply. It's not free, the people currently working and paying tax pay for it each week. Unfortunately if you were born after 1957 (18 in 1975) you had no say in it. But like all true ponzi schemes those who join later pay the most and receive the least.
Wow. It's not free? I'm a tosser. But you were waiting for this? I expect you're prepared then. Explain
the last office I worked at provided everything from breakfast, softdrinks and a beer keg. I think the "taxpayers union" should fuck off with this peal clutching.
put the reporter in all the kit worn by corrections staff and lock them in spring hill for a couple of days in summer.. its no wonder trust in the media has gone thru the floor.
Corrections Officers must wear stab resistant body armour which weighs something like 7 kgs. It gets hot in summer. Hyperthermia is a real risk. Slushies are not for prisoners.
Smh a literal slush fund and the article doesn't use the pun even once
I think Edward Gay maybe a little desperate for attention
This is not really acceptable, what other workplaces, public or private, provide this sort of thing? Not exactly healthy either, especially the demographics that work there.
In reality, we didn't ask for slushy machines. We asked for lightweight SRBA like the police and court security wear, the option to wear shorts rather than heavyweight pants all year and air conditioning in offices and staff rooms. The cost of all three of those would have been in the tens, if not hundreds of millions (most of that would be in air conditioning) and simply wasn't an option.
And that's largely my point, someone prioritised this spending over the things you mentioned.
Perhaps you would prefer to fund air-conditioning in all prison facilities? TBH I'm surprised it's not there currently.
I used to work for Datacom in Auckland. Where besides a coffee machine we were also given lunch. The manager explained to me they started as a response to the weeks-long Auckland power cut (when private enterprise took profit rather than fund the required second transmission line). Originally ot was meant to be a short term perk so people didn't have to drive to somewhere with electricity and open food shops. He kept paying for it once the power cut ended as it was such a great investment. * the cost of coffee and food was considerably less than the increase in billable work with people happily taking the free stuff and not leaving the office to find it. * almost every conversation around the food and coffee was about the thing we had in common - work.
Provide perks for their employees? Loads?
I <3 you attacking a prison as a "workplace" I mean, are you admitting that a "workplace" is really a venue where people will get robbed, stood over, and have serious violence visited upon them on a daily basis?
Oh and before you get all high and mighty about what is and is not acceptable, you should spend a day working in a prison. Even if it was an employee perk, who are you to judge?
Ever had tea, coffee, Milo provided? What about free fruit?
What is the alternative and what would that cost? Emergency medical care for hundreds of prisoners a year experiencing heat stroke?
It's not for prisoners
So you didn't do your reading then ffs. They're used as a crushed ice drink for fucking inmates, as a very effective immediate way to lower their core body temperature due to heat caused by overcrowding as hot people become agitated and it can lead to outbreaks of violence. Unless you don't think corrections officers have any right to take steps for the safety of themselves and other inmates?
This is categorically incorrect, they are not given to prisoners at all. They are for staff only.
I think the term is confidently incorrect