The store in the Buffalo, NY, area is the
first to vote to unionize.
Two other stores in Buffalo are conducting similar votes with results that should be determined soon.
The vote to unionize at the Starbucks location follows several months of worker frustration over difficult working conditions.
Which have been exacerbated by the pandemic.
Starbucks went
to great lengths
to prevent
the unionization.
Sending high-level executives and out-of-state district managers to the location in order to
hold discussions with the employees.
According to 'The New York Times,'.
Video captured one district manager saying the company had asked her to go to Buffalo to
"save it" from the union vote.
Employees at the store described company tactics to prevent unionization...
... such as excessive staffing in order to disrupt the vote and the closure of stores.
Such tactics are known as "packing" and are common when companies are under threat of employee unionization.
Starbucks claims these actions were an effort to increase efficiency and remodel stores
Starbucks to Exit Russia, , Close 130 Licensed Locations.
On May 23, Starbucks announced
that it will exit the Russian market
after 15 years of operation. .
NBC reports that Starbucks has now joined
the ranks of western companies to withdraw
from Russia, including McDonald's and Exxon Mobil. .
NBC reports that Starbucks has now joined
the ranks of western companies to withdraw
from Russia, including McDonald's and Exxon Mobil. .
NBC reports that Starbucks has now joined
the ranks of western companies to withdraw
from Russia, including McDonald's and Exxon Mobil. .
Starbucks currently
has 130 locations
throughout Russia. .
NBC reports that all of those locations
are licensed and not operated directly
by the Seattle-based company. .
NBC reports that all of those locations
are licensed and not operated directly
by the Seattle-based company. .
According to Starbucks, the company
will continue to pay its nearly 2,000 Russian
workers for an additional six months.
The company also said that it will
help workers transition to new
opportunities outside of Starbucks.
NBC reports that Starbucks' business in Russia only accounts for 1% of the company's annual revenue. .
Meanwhile, McDonald's suspension of its operations
in Russia and Ukraine cost the company
$127 million in first quarter revenue.
Meanwhile, McDonald's suspension of its operations
in Russia and Ukraine cost the company
$127 million in first quarter revenue.
The Russian and Ukrainian
markets reportedly accounted
for 9% of McDonald's revenue in 2021. .
The fast-food chain
operated approximately
850 restaurants in Russia. .
On May 19, McDonald's announced it would be selling those locations to a Siberian franchisee, who will then operate them under a new brand.
On May 19, McDonald's announced it would be selling those locations to a Siberian franchisee, who will then operate them under a new brand
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Starbucks has confirmed it has decided to exit Russia, 12 weeks after the coffee shop chain revealed it had closed all its stores in the country in response to.. Sky News
Starbucks To Cover Travel Costs for , Employees Seeking Abortions, Gender-Affirming Surgeries.
CNBC reports that on May 16, the coffee chain revealed it will now pay for eligible travel expenses for its workers who seek the medical procedures.
If access to abortion or gender-affirming surgery isn't available within 100 miles of where an employee lives, Starbucks will reimburse their travel costs.
This offer extends to dependents
of Starbucks employees as well.
Other companies that have pledged to reimburse workers for travel costs in search of access to safe abortions include Amazon.
Other companies that have pledged to reimburse workers for travel costs in search of access to safe abortions include Amazon.
Apple, Microsoft and Salesforce.
Apple, Microsoft and Salesforce.
Apple, Microsoft and Salesforce.
The companies' promises come after a leaked Supreme Court draft revealed intentions to overturn Roe v. Wade.
CNBC reports Starbucks has long
championed liberal causes.
In addition to offering to cover travel costs
for certain medical procedures, .
Starbucks' health insurance has covered
gender reassignment surgery since 2012 and other gender-affirming procedures since 2018
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
What Can America Do About , Far-Right Extremism?.
America has been inundated with
mass shootings as of late.
America has been inundated with
mass shootings as of late.
America has been inundated with
mass shootings as of late.
In the case of the alleged Buffalo, New York, shooter, ABC News reports he left notes indicating radical, far-right and racist motivations.
The suspect explains that he
cultivated his beliefs on the internet.
Experts fear the recent mass shooting highlights the evolution of white
supremacy in the United States.
We've had too many wake-up calls
at this point for me to feel confident that we're going to suddenly change the current path that we are on. , Michael Edison Hayden, senior investigative reporter
at the Southern Poverty Law Center, via ABC News.
Experts believe radicalization occurs across the country due to the internet and the normalization of hateful media rhetoric.
Experts believe radicalization occurs across the country due to the internet and the normalization of hateful media rhetoric.
Some fear the current divisive climate
in the country has allowed right-wing extremism to grow exponentially.
We better understand this is
a clear and present danger to American democracy. , Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, via ABC News.
Per the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), alleged right-wing attacks
have been the source of many terrorist
incidents in the United States since 1994.
The last two years -- 2021 and 2020 -- were the highest recorded years of domestic terrorism, plots and attacks, so the trends are pretty concerning. , Seth Jones, Senior Vice President of CSIS, via ABC News.
Experts say to de-normalize white
supremacy, call out racism when
you see it in your community.
Your silence is your acceptance. , Rasawn Ray, senior fellow at The Brookings Institution, via ABC News
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
The United States , Has Already Experienced , 198 Mass Shootings in 2022.
NPR reports ten people lost their
lives in the recent racially charged
attack in Buffalo, New York, .
making it the deadliest mass shooting
of 2022 in the United States.
With just over 19 weeks into the new year,
the country has already experienced
198 mass shooting events.
That equates to around ten
mass shootings per week.
Mass shootings have become increasingly common in the United States.
In 2021, the country saw 693 mass shootings. In 2020, that number was 611 and
2019 saw 417 such events.
Experts say such deadly massacres
aren't happening at random.
This is planned violence. , Mark Follman, author of 'Trigger Points,' mass shooting researcher, via NPR.
There is, in every one of these cases, always a trail of ... behavioral warning signs. , Mark Follman, author of 'Trigger Points,' mass shooting researcher, via NPR.
Experts say the role of mental health in such devastating events are often misunderstood.
The general public views mass shooters as people who are totally crazy, insane. It fits with the idea of snapping, as if these people are totally detached from reality. , Mark Follman, author of 'Trigger Points,' mass shooting researcher, via NPR.
Instead, experts believe "a very rational thought process" occurs in planning and initiating a mass shooting
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
A self-confessed white supremacist suspected of killing ten people in New York wanted Sadiq Khan dead. Payton Gendron, 18, singled out the London mayor in his chilling 180-page manifesto. Report by Burnsla. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Buffalo Mass Shooting Suspect , Intended to
‘Continue His Rampage,’ , Police Say.
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia made the comments on May 16, two days after the mass shooting at a Tops grocery store in Buffalo, NY.
Ten people were killed when an 18-year-old white man drove 200 miles to Buffalo and opened fire in the store.
Gramaglia says the man had plans to conduct mass shootings at other locations.
There was evidence that was uncovered that he had plans, had he gotten out of here, to continue his rampage and continue shooting people, Joseph Gramaglia, Buffalo Police Commissioner, via CNN.
He'd even spoken about possibly going to another store, Joseph Gramaglia, Buffalo Police Commissioner, via CNN.
He was going to get in his car and continue to drive down Jefferson Avenue and continue doing the same thing, Joseph Gramaglia, Buffalo Police Commissioner, via CNN.
The man live-streamed the shooting on Twitch for two minutes before the platform intervened.
Gramaglia stated there was evidence that the shooter had traveled to the location earlier in the week.
He was in town Friday. We have him through our license plate reader technology, Joseph Gramaglia, Buffalo Police Commissioner, via CNN.
According to Erie County Sheriff John Garcia, the violence was a "straight-up racially motivated hate crime from somebody outside of our community.".
This was pure evil, John Garcia, Erie County Sheriff, via CNN.
The shooter reportedly posted a 180-page manifesto that contained allusions to the racist conspiracy theory known as the "Great Replacement.".
Of the 13 people shot,
eleven of them
were Black.
That could have been our mothers, our grandmothers, our aunts, our uncles. And it was us. It was us, Kelly Galloway, Buffalo Resident, via CNN
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Activision Blizzard Employees , Are Joining a Union.
NPR reports that Activision Blizzard's
Raven Software employees have voted in favor of
joining the Communication Workers of America.
Raven Software is a subsidiary
of the video game company.
Among the 28 quality assurance testers unionizing,
the final vote was 19-3 in favor of joining.
The move comes after Microsoft announced its plan to acquire Activision Blizzard in January.
Kelvin Liu, an Activision Blizzard
spokesperson, issued a statement.
We respect and believe in the right of all employees to decide whether or not to support or vote for a union, Kelvin Liu, an Activision Blizzard
spokesperson, via NPR.
We believe that an important decision that will impact the entire Raven Software studio of roughly 350 people should not be made by 19 Raven employees, Kelvin Liu, an Activision Blizzard
spokesperson, via NPR.
NPR reports Activision Blizzard tried to
stop the union vote from happening.
but the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) allowed the vote to proceed.
but the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) allowed the vote to proceed.
Amid reported poor working conditions and harassment allegations, the gaming industry appears to be ready for a change
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Second Amazon Union Vote , in NYC Fails.
Last month, Amazon workers on
Staten Island voted to unionize, becoming the first to do so in the United States.
Last month, Amazon workers on
Staten Island voted to unionize, becoming the first to do so in the United States.
But on May 2, 'New York Post' reports that a second, smaller Staten Island Amazon facility voted against following in their footsteps. .
But on May 2, 'New York Post' reports that a second, smaller Staten Island Amazon facility voted against following in their footsteps. .
The vote count was reportedly 380 for
and 618 against unionization.
Still, the Amazon Labor Union has
vowed to continue its fight.
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez showed up to support union activists in April.
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez showed up to support union activists in April.
I say to Jeff Bezos, who owns a $500 million yacht — I say, ‘Jeff, when you’re out on your yacht, I want you to think about the workers. ’They want housing that is affordable. They want to be able to put away a few bucks to send their kids to college, Sen. Bernie Sanders, via statement, as reported by 'New York Post'.
I say to Jeff Bezos, who owns a $500 million yacht — I say, ‘Jeff, when you’re out on your yacht, I want you to think about the workers. ’They want housing that is affordable. They want to be able to put away a few bucks to send their kids to college, Sen. Bernie Sanders, via statement, as reported by 'New York Post'.
Meanwhile, Amazon has appealed the vote to unionize at the first Staten Island warehouse and contested another union vote in Bessemer, AL.
Meanwhile, Amazon has appealed the vote to unionize at the first Staten Island warehouse and contested another union vote in Bessemer, AL.
The National Labor Relations Board
is looking into both situations
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Amazon Workers on Staten Island , Vote To Unionize.
'The New York Times' reports that on April 1, Amazon workers on Staten Island voted to establish the company's first U.S. union.
'The New York Times' reports that on April 1, Amazon workers on Staten Island voted to establish the company's first U.S. union.
2,654 voted to
unionize, while
2,131 were against it.
Over 8,000 employees were
eligible to vote.
The workers will now be represented by the
Amazon Labor Union, formed by former Amazon employee Christian Smalls after being fired from the company.
Organizers are demanding higher pay,
paid sick leave, extended breaks, paid time
off for injuries sustained at work and more.
NPR reports that the warehouse was only the second Amazon facility to vote on unionizing. .
The first was in Bessemer, Alabama, but the vote was invalidated by the National Labor Relations Board after it concluded Amazon interfered in the election.
The first was in Bessemer, Alabama, but the vote was invalidated by the National Labor Relations Board after it concluded Amazon interfered in the election.
NPR reports that the Bessemer warehouse has since voted again, .
but the results were too close to determine an outcome, prompting a hearing which will be held in the coming weeks
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Significant 2020 Census Miscounts , Affected 14 States, , US Census Bureau Admits.
The U.S. Census Bureau released its report on the
2020 Census Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) on May 19.
Significant net undercount rates were discovered in Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.
Significant net overcount rates were discovered in Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota,
New York, Ohio, Rhode Island and Utah.
No census is perfect, Robert Santos, Census Bureau Director,
via NPR News.
And the PES allows us to become more informed about the 2020 census by estimating what portion of the population was correctly counted, Robert Santos, Census Bureau Director,
via NPR News.
... where we missed people and where some people were counted that shouldn't have been, Robert Santos, Census Bureau Director,
via NPR News.
It's a monumental task to count everybody. And this helps us inform how well we do, Timothy Kennel, Census Bureau Assistant Division Chief, via NPR News.
Lawmakers across the country have already begun to use the 2020 Census data to establish new voting districts in their states.
Voting-rights activists say that 2020 grassroots efforts seemed to have mitigated significant miscounts in their respective areas.
A lot of the southern states were hit with disasters, hurricanes while door-to-door work was going on, Allison Plyer, The Data Center, via NPR News.
But the one thing that states have control over is their own get-out-the-count efforts, Allison Plyer, The Data Center, via NPR News.
We know that Texas invested very little in get-out-the-count, and when they did so, it was very late in the process, Allison Plyer, The Data Center, via NPR News.
Texas was found to have had a significant net undercount rate of 1.92 percent.
More data and demographic detail are needed for a full understanding of our communities and who does —
or does not — have access to
critical resources, Meeta Anand, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Right, via NPR News.
The Census Bureau also needs to be adequately funded to ensure that inequities from inaccurate counts do not persist into 2030 and beyond, Meeta Anand, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Right, via NPR News
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Bobby Shmurda is dancing for joy ... literally, now that the New York State Senate has signed off on the "Rap Music on Trial" bill. The newly proposed law.. TMZ.com
Ukraine Aid Funding Receives, Overwhelming Bipartisan Support, in US Senate.
Ukraine Aid Funding Receives, Overwhelming Bipartisan Support, in US Senate.
The Senate approved $40 billion in additional aid for Ukraine on May 19.
The vote was 86 to 11, a commanding show of bipartisanship in a deeply divided Senate.
President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law immediately.
The total amount of U.S. aid supplied to the nation equates to $54 billion.
Ukraine has been battling an invasion of Russian forces since Feb. 24. .
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that passage of the aid means that more "help is on the way.".
We Americans — all of us, Democrat and Republican — cannot afford to stick our heads in the sand while Vladimir Putin continues his vicious belligerence against the Ukrainian people, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, (D-NY),
via 'The New York Times'.
Senate Minority Leader
Mitch McConnell stated
that passage of the aid is
good for American interests.
Aid for Ukraine goes far beyond charity; the future of America’s security and core strategic interests will be shaped by the outcome of this fight, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, (R-KY),
via 'The New York Times'.
McConnell accompanied a delegation of Republican senators to Ukraine over the weekend.
The bill passed by the Senate provides significantly
more aid than what was asked for by President Biden.
Its focus is almost equally divided on both weapons and humanitarian aid.
The humanitarian aid includes funding to
assist the Ukrainian government.
as well as support for refugees in the form of training, housing and trauma services
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Employees at three Starbucks locations in Buffalo, NY are voting on unionizing their workplaces in yet another move by workers to organize for better pay and benefits.
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