What going to happen to Market Basket?
That’s been the hot topic for nearly two weeks since staff members at the company’s corporate office, warehouse workers and company drivers in Tewksbury, Massachusetts walked off the job.
Those workers and others have been protesting the firing of CEO Arthur T. Demoulas, who has led the company for eight years. The Demoulas Market Basket Board of Directors fired Arthur T. Demoulas, and two other executives, in late June, putting his cousin, Arthur S. Demoulas, in charge, along with two new co-CEOs, Felicia Thornton and James Gooch. Those two fired eight more employees the weekend before last, and others have resigned in protest.
In Biddeford this week, outside of the only Maine Market Basket store, a handful of people have been holding signs and waving flags in support of Arthur T., and asking customers to boycott the store until their former CEO is reinstated.
That’s been the case in Massachusetts and stores elsewhere, too, albeit on a much larger scale.
Thousands of employees, customers and supporters have protested at the Market Basket store in Tewksbury, according to the Associated Press, telling reporters that they want Arthur T. back, and are concerned about the direction in which Arthur S. would take the company.
Although it’s likely a complex issue for the board ”“ members of which are the only ones privy to the inner workings of the company ”“ it’s been impressive for the public to see workers standing up for what they believe in, particularly at a company with no union to back them up.
In this day and age, workers have been forced to do more with less; even though the Great Recession officially ended years ago, the shrinking middle class will say it sure doesn’t feel like it.
So while it shouldn’t be surprising that Market Basket employees are speaking out to retain their good pay and benefits, profit sharing and bonuses, it is.
With the exception of the Occupy Wall Street movement, non-union American workers have been hesitant to ruffle the feathers of their employers in this economy due to the uncertainty in the job market. That is why the Market Basket situation has been even more galvanizing ”“ the workers themselves walked off the job in protest, with no guarantee that their jobs would be safe. They took a chance because they believe in something, or rather, someone.
Tom Trainor, a district supervisor who worked for the company for 41 years before being fired over the protests, said of Arthur T., “You know the movie, ”˜It’s a Wonderful Life,’ he’s George Bailey.” He’s “just a tremendous human being who puts people above profits. He can walk through a store, and if he’s met you once, he knows your name, he knows your wife, your husband, your kids, where they are going to school,” according to the AP.
Now that Arthur T. has made an official request to purchase the company from his cousin and other family members, we hope the board will act quickly to find a resolution to this issue, and keep in mind what workers are saying.
If Arthur S. remains in control and the company must raise prices to pay for the rumored increased profits set to go to shareholders and new debt, Market Basket’s slogan, “more for your dollar,” won’t hold true for long. If that’s the case, the chain will likely see fierce competition from supermarket chains like Shaw’s and Hannaford ”“ especially here in southern Maine, where many had flocked to shop at the new Biddeford Market Basket since last August.
The wrong decision could alienate workers, potential future workers and customers, which could do serious damage to the company. It’s already suffering financially due to the bare shelves in the 71 stores’ produce, meat and dairy departments, and depleted stock elsewhere. Many customers who have spoken with news outlets have expressed their solidarity with the workers, and said they, too, won’t go back to Market Basket unless Arthur T. returns.
It’s clear that the Market Basket board needs to act quickly, and we hope it will make a decision that will ensure the company’s success into the future.
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Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham Rousseau on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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