Demoulas working 'around the clock' to pursue remaining Market Basket shares

TEWKSBURY, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Former Market Basket CEO Arthur T. Demoulas announced Sunday that he is working around the clock to pursue the remaining 50.5-percent of company shares.

A statement released on behalf of Demoulas said as part of his proposal, Arthur T. has offered to return to work in advance of the completion of the purchase as soon as 12 a.m. Monday. The statement said Arthur T. is hopeful, but "resolution depends on the response of the other shareholders in order for an agreement to be reached."

The new details of the offer were released as a deadline for employees to return to work looms. They have been told that if they're not back to work by Monday, their jobs will be filled by other people. Last week, the company announced that a job fair would be held for prospective new employees from Monday through Wednesday.

On Sunday, protests continued even as an ultimatum loomed. Some people were feeling the pressure, as the stalemate looked like it could come to a head this week. Others were not as worried. But employees agree that the only solution is to bring back Arthur T. Demoulas, the supermarket chain's fired chief executive.

“Honestly, I think there’s a 50 percent chance this could blow up in everybody’s face," said deli worker Gerard Hamner.
 
Hamner has had some hours cut. He’ll be back at work on Monday, but worries what this week will bring.
 
Market Basket's current CEOs Felicia Thornton and James Gooch laid down the law last week, telling employees who are not working to report back or be replaced, but not everyone is afraid.
 
“I think they’re just trying to scare us," said cashier Briana Silva. "I think it’s just a scare tactic. But I don’t think it’s gonna work.”
 
Silva, who protests on her own time, puts in 10 to 15 hours a week calling for Arthur T. to be reinstated. Like many employees, she believes he’s the only hope to save the company and bring back boycotting customers.

“A lot of customers will come by with water and food," to the protests, Silva said. "So if he doesn’t come back, I don’t think they’re gonna come back.”

A produce warehouse is the site of a job fair starting Monday afternoon. The fair is for current Market Basket associates through Tuesday. Then on Wednesday, the fair will open to the public, presumably to fill jobs of people who do not report back to work on Monday.

Cox Media Group