Market Basket Employees Not Heading Back to Work Monday

By Liz Taurasi

More than a week has passed, offers are on the table and everyone is wondering what is going to happen next in the Market Basket situation.

While the future isn’t clear, one thing is for certain, employees say they will continue to stand their ground in their fight to bring back ousted CEO Arthur T. Demoulas.

Just one day after the Market Basket board of directors met, and upwards of 10,000 employees, customers and vendors gathered for the biggest rally yet, employees issued a statement Saturday telling customers and the public they remain fully committed to their cause.

Arthur T. issued a statement Wednesday saying he and other members of his side of the family want to buy the chain and made an offer to purchase the other 50.5 percent share of the company. Following Friday’s board meeting, it was announced this wasn’t the only offer for the 71-store chain.

But Market Basket employees want Arthur T. back and say it’s him or bust.

“ATD (Arthur T. Demoulas) must be reinstated with full authority as president of DSM. This has been and will continue to be non-negotiable,” the statement issued Saturday by employees said. “We also want to be clear in our message to any other potential buyer that we will work for no other CEO.”

In the nine days since employees took action, markets are bare, parking lots are empty and Market Basket customers have moved on to shopping where they can. Customers throughout the chain showed their support on Saturday with their own rallies at their favorite Market Basket location.

Market Basket officials issued a statement on Friday night saying all protesting and boycotting associates would be welcomed back with open arms Monday if they return to work and face no penalties or discipline for their actions.

But it appears employees aren’t interested in that offer.

“Please know that despite our co-CEO’s offer for amnesty, none of us will be returning to work until ATD is back in the driver’s seat and that includes if someone else buys the majority share of the company,” employees are saying on the “ We Are Market Basket” website. “We will NOT work for anyone but ATD and our customers have voted the same with their feet!