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Entire Starbucks team walks out during shift after manager fires union leader

Entire Starbucks team walks out during shift after manager fires union leader

An entire store of Starbucks workers have walked out of their cafe mid-shift, in support of a colleague they claim was “unjustly” terminated.

In a TikTok video which has been viewed more than 18.6 million times, a team of nine workers can be seen leaving the store in Buffalo, New York.

The protest occurred after barista Sam Amato – who is also a union leader – was reportedly fired on the week of his 13th anniversary with the company.

After the employees leave, a woman who appears to be the store manager can be seen talking on the phone. The on-screen caption in the video reads: “* manager realizes she she’s messed up *”.

In a previous video Mr Amato claimed he was pulled aside by two store managers and was told he was being let go because he “modified operations and closed the lobby” without getting his “store manager’s permission”.

“It is a BS reason. It’s because I’m a union leader,” claimed Sam.

“They failed to provide any details or give me any information. They wrote things that were not true.

“After 13 years they refused to give me any details why I was fired.”

In the comments, the majority of TikTok users supported the worker’s efforts.

“Starbucks really is hell bent on ruining their reputation aren’t they,” read one comment.

“Good on you guys. Stand together. Keep this energy going,” read another.

“Starbucks, I’m a loyal customer but trust me when I tell you. That can change real quick friend!” shared another.

Under United States labor laws, workers in all 50 states bar Montana are subject to at-will employment. This means employees can be fired without prior warning and without the need for the employer to establish a cause. However, employers can still be challenged on the grounds of wrongful termination – like discrimination.

While some states have exceptions – for example, workers in the public sector, or those under union agreements – the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Nebraska, New York, and Rhode Island have no exceptions in regards as to why an employee may be terminated.

Since late 2021, Starbucks employees across the US’ 9000+ corporate-owned stores have attempted to unionize with Workers United. As of June 14, 143 stores have unionized, while 120 other outposts were petitioning for union elections, Guardian reports.

Workers United stated that the coffee giant has been systematically cutting employee hours in an effort to convince longtime employees to retire, before replacing them with workers who won’t unionise, the New York Times reports.

“Starbucks is also using policies that have not previously been enforced, and policies that would not have resulted in termination, as a pretext for firing union leaders,” the union said in a statement.

With around 33,833 stories in 80 countries, Starbucks is the world’s largest coffeehouse chain and is estimated to be worth A$140 billion.

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Nebraska woman charged with helping daughter have abortion

Nebraska woman charged with helping daughter have abortion

OMAHA, Nebraska (AP) — A Nebraska woman has been charged with helping her teenage daughter end her pregnancy at about 24 weeks after investigators uncovered Facebook messages in which the two discussed using medication to induce an abortion and plans to burn the fetus afterward.

The prosecutor handling the case said it’s the first time he has charged anyone for illegally performing an abortion after 20 weeks, a restriction that was passed in 2010. Before the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, states weren’t allowed to enforce abortion bans until the point at which a fetus is considered viable outside the womb, at roughly 24 weeks.

In one of the Facebook messages, Jessica Burgess, 41, tells her then 17-year-old daughter that she has obtained abortion pills for her and gives her instructions on how to take them to end the pregnancy.

The daughter, meanwhile, “talks about how she can’t wait to get the ‘thing’ out of her body,” a detective wrote in court documents. “I will finally be able to wear jeans,” she says in one of the messages. Law enforcement authorities obtained the messages with a search warrant, and detailed some of them in court documents.

In early June, the mother and daughter were only charged with a single felony for removing, concealing or abandoning a body, and two misdemeanors: concealing the death of another person and false reporting. It wasn’t until about a month later, after investigators reviewed the private Facebook messages, that they added the felony abortion-related charges against the mother. The daughter, who is now 18, is being charged as an adult at prosecutors’ request.

Burgess’ attorney didn’t immediately respond to a message Tuesday, and the public defender representing the daughter declined to comment.

When first interviewed, the two told investigators that the teen had unexpectedly given birth to a stillborn baby in the shower in the early morning hours of April 22. They said they put the fetus in a bag, placed it in a box in the back of their van, and later drove several miles north of town, where they buried the body with the help of a 22-year-old man.

The man, whom The Associated Press is not identifying because he has only been charged with a misdemeanor, has pleaded no contest to helping bury the fetus on rural land his parents own north of Norfolk in northeast Nebraska. He’s set to be sentenced later this month.

In court documents, the detective said the fetus showed signs of “thermal wounds” and that the man told investigators the mother and daughter did burn it. He also wrote that the daughter confirmed in the Facebook exchange with her mother that the two would “burn the evidence afterward.” Based on medical records, the fetus was more than 23 weeks old, the detective wrote.

Burgess later admitted to investigators to buy the abortion pills “for the purpose of instigating a miscarriage.”

At first, both mother and daughter said they didn’t remember the date when the stillbirth happened, but according to the detective, the daughter later confirmed the date by consulting her Facebook messages. After that he sought the warrant, he said.

Madison County Attorney Joseph Smith told the Lincoln Journal Star that he’s never filed charges like this related to performing an abortion illegally in his 32 years as the county prosecutor. He didn’t immediately respond to a message from the AP on Tuesday.

The group National Advocates for Pregnant Women, which supports abortion rights, found 1,331 arrests or detentions of women for crimes related to their pregnancy from 2006 to 2020.

In addition to its current 20-week abortion ban, Nebraska tried — but failed — earlier this year to pass a so-called trigger law that would have banned all abortions when the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

A Facebook spokesman declined to talk about the details of this case, but the company has said that officials at the social media giant “always scrutinize every government request we receive to make sure it is legally valid.”

Facebook it will fight back against requests that it thinks are invalid or too broad says, but the company said it gave investigators information in about 88% of the 59,996 times when the government requested data in the second half of last year.

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Court records reveal more about Laurel’s quadruple homicide, suspect’s arrest | News

Court records reveal more about Laurel's quadruple homicide, suspect's arrest | News

LAUREL — It took law enforcement less than 24 hours to arrest a suspect after four bodies were found in Laurel.

Jason A. Jones, 42, of Laurel was arrested Friday at 2:30 am in connection to four deaths found within blocks of each other, according to the Nebraska State Patrol. The four victims were found deceased in separate residences in the early-morning hours on Thursday.

Court records obtained by the Daily News have revealed more information about the alleged incident that led up to the victims’ deaths on Thursday.

According to the court records, a 911 call was made by a male around 3:30 am on Thursday after he heard an explosion that occurred at 209 Elm St. Laurel Fire and EMS arrived on the scene and located a woman lying inside the back door of the residence. She was pronounced dead on the scene after lifesaving attempts were unsuccessful.

Court records state that the woman appeared to have suffered two gunshot wounds. A bullet casing was found near her body.

The woman was later identified as Michelle Ebeling, 53, by the Nebraska State Patrol.

A fire also appeared to occur inside the residence after burn marks were observed on the floor, walls and furniture, according to the court records. The smell of smoke and gasoline was also present at the time, indicating that the fire had just occurred.

According to the records, a red fuel container could be observed and a discolored trail on the floor indicated that a fire accelerant was used on the scene.

A search warrant was later issued for Jones’ residence at 206 Elm. St, according to the court records. After entering the house, the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT team found several receipts in a black backpack.

Two receipts showed purchases from Cubby’s Gas Station and Rath’s Mini Mart in Laurel under Jones’ credit card, but it was not stated what he purchased from the gas station and liquor store.

However, another receipt found that a 6-gallon auto shutoff gas can, fuel tank and camping backpack were purchased from a department store in Sioux City, Iowa, under Jones’ credit card.

On Thursday, investigators met with an employee at Rath’s Mini Mart and viewed camera footage, which showed Jones pumping gas into two red gas cans, court records stated.

Shortly after the first incident was reported, a 911 call was made regarding smoke coming from a residence located at 503 Elm St.

Laurel Fire and EMS arrived on the scene and discovered soot damage consistent with fire, court records indicated.

According to the court records, three individuals were found in the residence, and all appeared to have gunshot wounds. The victims were Gene and Janet Twiford, 86 and 85, respectively, and Dana Twiford, 55. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

A firearm was found at the residence, which was purchased by Jones, according to the court records, which also stated that the gunshot wounds were consistent with the firearm found. However, the gunshot wounds to Ebeling appeared to have been shot by a different caliber firearm that has not been located, authorities said.

According to the court records, Jones will be charged with 10 felonies: Four counts of first-degree homicide, two counts of first-degree arson and four counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony.

The Nebraska State Patrol said on Friday that Jones was transported to CHI St. Elizabeth in Lincoln because of serious burn injuries. It is unclear at this time when his first court hearing will be.

It’s been more than a century since tragedy struck the Northeast Nebraska town of 1,000 people, according to Brenda Whalen, a resident of Laurel.

According to Whalen, the last time murder that happened in Laurel was during a 1918 shootout.

“Hopefully that was that century’s big news and this is this century’s big news and it never happens again,” Whalen said.

Whalen, who grew up in Laurel, said she was first aware that something had happened in her hometown when the fire whistle blew at around 3:14 am on Thursday. However, she didn’t hear about the day’s events until around 7:30 am

“It hurts your heart that something like this can happen in your little town because it’s safe here,” Whalen said.

Whalen said that she felt reassured for her safety when she saw the number of law enforcement authorities and firefighters in town. But at the same time, it also alarmed her to see that many law enforcement personnel.

“It still just didn’t feel real,” Whalen said. “It felt like it wasn’t a real event that was really happening here. It just felt like you were in a movie. It’s very hard to comprehend that it even happened yet.”

John Bolduc, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, said in a news conference on Friday that more than 60 law enforcement officers were reportedly in town.

Whalen later found out that Jones had been arrested in connection to the quadruple homicide on Friday morning.

According to the state patrol, Jones lived across the street from one of the victims’ homes. He was later arrested at his residence, 206 Elm. St.

“It’s very shocking that the suspect could have been there across the street the whole entire day,” Whalen said, “while the police were present in the neighborhood.”

Whalen said that although she didn’t know Jones, she knew the victims well. She knew the Twifords from church, and Ebeling was a frequent customer in her store, Laurel’s Hometown Market.

“We are a very safe community, tight-knit community; we’ll make it through this,” Whalen said. “It’s not going to be over for a while. And I think learning more about what and why it happened will be helpful to help the community heal.”

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How Nebraska law enforcement found evidence linking man to Laurel homicides

How Nebraska law enforcement found evidence linking man to Laurel homicides

Investigators said a string of physical evidence at two crime scenes led them to the man suspected of killing four people Thursday in Laurel, Nebraska. Court documents reveal how Nebraska law enforcement compiled evidence against the 42-year-old Jason Jones, who was found by a state patrol SWAT team badly burned in his home across the street from one of the murder scenes. Around 3:11 am, Laurel Fire and EMS arrived at the first crime scene and located a woman “lying inside the back door of the residence in a pool of blood,” according to court documents.The woman, identified as 53-year-old Michele Ebeling, was pronounced dead on the scene.According to court documents, Ebeling appeared to have suffered two gunshot wounds, one to the chest and one to the head. Burn marks were observed on the floor, walls and furniture at the first crime scene, indicating a fire had occurred, according to court documents. First responders also observed the smell of smoke and the smell of gasoline from inside the house. According to court documents, law enforcement also saw a red fuel container inside the front door of the residence and a “discolored trail on the floor,” indicating an accelerant was used. After obtaining a search warrant, officers located a black backpack in the kitchen of the first residence, according to court documents. Several receipts were inside the backpack, including one dated Aug. 3 at 4:41 pm, to a Cubby’s Gas Station in Laurel. The credit card used for the purchase was in Jason Jones’ name. There was also a receipt to Fleet Farm in Sioux City for the purchase of a 6-gallon auto shutoff gas can, along with a fuel tank and camping backpack. A third receipt was to Rath’s Mini Mart in Laurel, dated Aug. 3 at 7:49 pmAccording to court documents, law enforcement found security camera video at Rath’s Mini Mart that shows Jones pumping gas into two cans just before 8 pm on Wednesday.At the second crime scene, first responders found smoke and soot damage consistent with a fire, according to court documents. Law enforcement found three deceased parties, all with gunshot wounds, inside the residence. The three victims at the second residence were identified as 86- year-old Gene Twiford, 85-year-old Janet Twiford and 55-year-old Dana Twiford.Further investigation of the scene showed a pry bar was used to gain access to the rear door of the residence, which investigators found on the ground near the rear door, according to court documents. A magazine to a firearm was also found in this area, and law enforcement found a firearm and a Molotov cocktail inside the residence, according to court documents. The firearm found in the residence was identified as a black Ruger 57, which records showed was purchased by Jones in 2021, according to court documents. When Jones was taken into custody, law enforcement said he had severe burns. Nebraska State Police said he was airlifted to a Lincoln hospital and is in serious condition as of Friday morning. According to court documents, Jones was arrested on four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree arson and four counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony.

LAUREL, Neb. —

Investigators said a string of physical evidence at two crime scenes led them to the man suspected of killing four people Thursday in Laurel, Nebraska.

Court documents reveal how Nebraska law enforcement compiled evidence against the 42-year-old Jason Jones, who was found by a state patrol SWAT team badly burned in his home across the street from one of the murder scenes.

Around 3:11 am, Laurel Fire and EMS arrived at the first crime scene and located a woman “lying inside the back door of the residence in a pool of blood,” according to court documents.

The woman, identified as 53-year-old Michele Ebeling, was pronounced dead on the scene.

According to court documents, Ebeling appeared to have suffered two gunshot wounds, one to the chest and one to the head.

Burn marks were observed on the floor, walls and furniture at the first crime scene, indicating a fire had occurred, according to court documents. First responders also observed the smell of smoke and the smell of gasoline from inside the house.

According to court documents, law enforcement also saw a red fuel container inside the front door of the residence and a “discolored trail on the floor,” indicating an accelerant was used.

After obtaining a search warrant, officers located a black backpack in the kitchen of the first residence, according to court documents. Several receipts were inside the backpack, including one dated Aug. 3 at 4:41 pm, to a Cubby’s Gas Station in Laurel. The credit card used for the purchase was in Jason Jones’ name. There was also a receipt to Fleet Farm in Sioux City for the purchase of a 6-gallon auto shutoff gas can, along with a fuel tank and camping backpack. A third receipt was to Rath’s Mini Mart in Laurel, dated Aug. 3 at 7:49 pm

According to court documents, law enforcement found security camera video at Rath’s Mini Mart that shows Jones pumping gas into two cans just before 8 pm on Wednesday.

At the second crime scene, first responders found smoke and soot damage consistent with a fire, according to court documents.

Law enforcement found three deceased parties, all with gunshot wounds, inside the residence.

The three victims at the second residence were identified as 86-year-old Gene Twiford, 85-year-old Janet Twiford and 55-year-old Dana Twiford.

Further investigation of the scene showed a pry bar was used to gain access to the rear door of the residence, which investigators found on the ground near the rear door, according to court documents. A magazine to a firearm was also found in this area, and law enforcement found a firearm and a Molotov cocktail inside the residence, according to court documents.

The firearm found in the residence was identified as a black Ruger 57, which records showed was purchased by Jones in 2021, according to court documents.

When Jones was taken into custody, law enforcement said he had severe burns. Nebraska State Police said he was airlifted to a Lincoln hospital and is in serious condition as of Friday morning.

According to court documents, Jones was arrested on four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree arson and four counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony.

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Laurel, Nebraska homicides: Here’s what we know

Laurel, Nebraska homicides: Here's what we know

A total of four people were found dead early Thursday morning at two separate homes in a northeast Nebraska town. James A. Jones, 42, was taken into custody in Laurel, Nebraska, and is being treated at a Lincoln hospital for severe burns. The motive for the homicides is unknown at this time. Here’s everything we’ve learned so far about what happened. The incidents Around 3 am Thursday, the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about an explosion at a residence in Laurel. Fire teams found a person dead inside the home, located in the 500 block of Elm Street. Around the same time, another fire was reported at a residence in the 200 block of Elm Street. Three people were found dead at the second residence. Nebraska State Patrol also believes gunfire played a role in the deaths and fire investigators believe that accelerants may have been used in each of the fires, according to authorities. The suspectCrime scene investigators found evidence that linked Jason Jones, a Laurel resident, to the homicides . After attempts for Jones to exit the home voluntarily, the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT Team entered the home and found the 42-year-old with severe burn injuries, according to law enforcement. NSP said he was airlifted to a Lincoln hospital and is in serious condition as of Friday morning. According to court documents, Jones was arrested on four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree arson and four courts of use of a firearm to commit a felony. No motive is known at this time. Records obtained by KETV NewsWatch 7 indicate Jones lived in Omaha at one point. He’s linked to one Omaha rental property for six months in 2019 and 2020, along with a second Omaha address with no date on the entry. Jones also had multiple residences in Texas and Oklahoma during the early 2000s and his move to Cedar County took place in 2018. The victims The victim at the first residence, located in the 200 block of Elm Street, was identified as 53-year-old Michele Ebeling, according to the Nebraska State Patrol. Investigators believe she was shot at least twice. They found backpack in the home with receipts linked to the purchase of gasoline and gas cans using a credit card belonging to James Jones. The three victims at the second residence, located in the 500 block of Elm Street, were identified as 86-year-olds. old Gene Twiford, 85-year-old Janet Twiford and 55-year-old Dana Twiford. Investigators say there is evidence a pry bar was used to gain access to the home. Inside, they found a gun purchased by Jones in February, 2021. Gene Twiford was part of the Nebraska American Legion and was a past department commander for District 6. On Facebook, the post shared a photo and asked for thoughts and prayers for his family of the. The pot said Gene was instrumental in getting Highway 20 renamed as the Nebraska Medal of Honor Highway. He received letters of support from every community and county along the 432-mile stretch. The highway earned its name designation in January 2020.

LAUREL, Neb. —

A total of four people were found dead early Thursday morning at two separate homes in a northeast Nebraska town.

James A. Jones, 42, was taken into custody in Laurel, Nebraska, and is being treated at a Lincoln hospital for severe burns. The motive for the homicides is unknown at this time.

Here’s everything we’ve learned so far about what happened.

incidents

Around 3 am Thursday, the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about an explosion at a residence in Laurel. Fire teams found a person dead inside the home, located in the 500 block of Elm Street.

Around the same time, another fire was reported at a residence in the 200 block of Elm Street.

Three people were found dead at the second residence.

The Nebraska State Patrol also believes gunfire played a role in the deaths and fire investigators believe that accelerants may have been used in each of the fires, according to authorities.

The suspect

Crime scene investigators found evidence that linked Jason Jones, a Laurel resident, to the homicides.

After attempts for Jones to exit the home voluntarily, the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT Team entered the home and found the 42-year-old with severe burn injuries, according to law enforcement.

NSP said he was airlifted to a Lincoln hospital and is in serious condition as of Friday morning.

According to court documents, Jones was arrested on four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree arson and four courts of use of a firearm to commit a felony.

No motive is known at this time.

Records obtained by KETV NewsWatch 7 indicate Jones lived in Omaha at one point.

He’s linked to one Omaha rental property for six months in 2019 and 2020, along with a second Omaha address with no date on the entry.

Jones also had multiple residences in Texas and Oklahoma during the early 2000s and his move to Cedar County took place in 2018.

The victims

The victim at the first residence, located in the 200 block of Elm Street, was identified as 53-year-old Michele Ebeling, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.

Investigators believe she was shot at least twice. They found backpack in the home with receipts linked to the purchase of gasoline and gas cans using a credit card belonging to James Jones.

The three victims at the second residence, located in the 500 block of Elm Street, were identified as 86-year-old Gene Twiford, 85-year-old Janet Twiford and 55-year-old Dana Twiford.

Investigators say there is evidence a pry bar was used to gain access to the home. Inside, they found a gun purchased by Jones in February, 2021.

Gene Twiford was part of the Nebraska American Legion and was a past department commander for District 6.

On Facebook, the post shared a photo and asked for thoughts and prayers for his family.

This content is imported from Facebook. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

The pot said Gene was instrumental in getting Highway 20 renamed as the Nebraska Medal of Honor Highway.

I have received letters of support from every community and county along the 432-mile stretch.

The highway earned its name designation in January 2020.

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Nebraska State Patrol says arrest made in relation to 4 homicides in Laurel

Nebraska State Patrol says arrest made in relation to 4 homicides in Laurel

A 42-year-old man was arrested Friday in connection with the four homicides early Thursday morning in Laurel, Nebraska, according to the state patrol. Crime scene investigators found evidence that linked Jason Jones, a Laurel resident, to the homicides. After attempts for Jones to exit the home voluntarily, the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT Team entered the home and found Jones with severe burn injuries, according to law enforcement. NSP said he was airlifted to a Lincoln hospital and is in serious condition as of Friday morning. The Nebraska State Patrol also believes gunfire played a role in the deaths at two separate homes in the northeast Nebraska town. Around 3 am, the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about an explosion at a residence in Laurel and fire teams found a person dead inside the home, according to the Nebraska State Patrol. The victim at the first residence was identified as 53- year-old Michele Ebeling, according to the Nebraska State Patrol. As investigators arrived at the scene, a second fire was reported a few blocks away, authorities said. Three people were found dead in the second residence and fire crews worked to preserve evidence while putting out the fire, the state patrol said. The three victims at the second residence were identified as 86-year-old Gene Twiford, 85-year-old Janet Twiford and 55-year-old Dana Twiford. Fire investigators believe that accelerants may have been used in each of the fires, according to authorities. Officials are waiting on autopsies for the cause of death. The Nebraska State Patrol said there is no danger to the Laurel community as a result of the arrest.

LAUREL, Neb. —

A 42-year-old man was arrested Friday in connection with the four homicides early Thursday morning in Laurel, Nebraska, according to the state patrol.

Crime scene investigators found evidence that linked Jason Jones, a Laurel resident, to the homicides.

After attempts for Jones to exit the home voluntarily, the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT Team entered the home and found Jones with severe burn injuries, according to law enforcement. NSP said he was airlifted to a Lincoln hospital and is in serious condition as of Friday morning.

The Nebraska State Patrol also believes gunfire played a role in the deaths at two separate homes in the northeast Nebraska town.

Around 3 am, the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about an explosion at a residence in Laurel and fire teams found a person dead inside the home, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.

The victim at the first residence was identified as 53-year-old Michele Ebeling, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.

As investigators arrived at the scene, a second fire was reported a few blocks away, authorities said.

Three people were found dead in the second residence and fire crews worked to preserve evidence while putting out the fire, the state patrol said.

The three victims at the second residence were identified as 86-year-old Gene Twiford, 85-year-old Janet Twiford and 55-year-old Dana Twiford.

Fire investigators believe that accelerants may have been used in each of the fires, according to authorities.

Officials are waiting on autopsies for the cause of death.

The Nebraska State Patrol said there is no danger to the Laurel community as a result of the arrest.

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