Ousted Market Basket CEO asks that fired employees be reinstated

TEWKSBURY, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Market Basket employees and supporters protested outside company headquarters in Tewksbury on Monday calling for the reinstatement of former CEO Arthur T. Demoulas.

"Never before anywhere in this country, on this scale, to my knowledge have people walked out, rose up, to get someone back," said Steve Paulenka, an organizer of the protest and longtime employee who was fired Sunday.

The rally came about 24 hours after eight senior employees were fired via courier Sunday.

"I feel as good as good today about this movement as I felt the day I started. I think firing me, they thought that was gonna get everybody panicked and scared and going back to work," said Tom Gordon, another longtime employee who was fired. "As you can see by the crowd, it's done exactly the opposite."

Since being fired as CEO, Demoulas, who remains a major shareholder at Market Basket, has remained silent. But Monday night, he released a statement in support of his employees, and asking that those who have been fired be reinstated.

"This is the first time I have commented publicly on the recent events at Market Basket. The success of Market Basket is the result of two things: a business model that works and the execution of it by a dedicated and impassioned team of associates. Their fierce loyalty to the company and its customers has always been deeply valued," the statement read.

"In the final analysis, this is not about me. It is about the people who have proven their dedication over many years and should not have lost their jobs because of it. I urge that they be reinstated in the best interest of the company and our customers."

Dozens of lawmakers pledged their support for Arthur T. Demoulas and employees, calling for a boycott of all 71 stores in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire.

"This is one of the biggest employers in Massachusetts, over 25,000 people work at Market Basket, and we're all very concerned with the direction the store is going in," said State Senator Barry Finegold.

While the dispute over leadership continues, the shelves are becoming more and more bare at stores all over the state.

Tewksbury warehouse operations director Dean Joyce says he doesn't plan to go back to work until Arthur T. is reinstated and neither will the drivers, and those that work under him. Employees in other departments also pledged to not to go back until Arthur T. is back.

"How far are employees like yourself ready to go? To the end. If I lose my job, I'm doing it with dignity," said Market Basket employee Larry Frost.

Co-CEOs Felicia Thornton and James Gooch released a statement Tuesday saying that they share the "sentiments that Arthur T. Demoulas articulated in his statement."

The statement went on to say that the success of the grocery store and the loyalty of the employees and customers is "the result of the dedication and hard work of thousands, from all ranks of the company."

Our cashiers and store associates are as important as senior executives. The individuals who were terminated took significant actions that harmed the company and therefore compromised Market Basket’s ability to be there for our customers. We took the difficult step of termination only after we saw no alternative," the statement read.

The statement also suggests that the associates focus again on customers and says they understand the strain associates are feeling.

Cox Media Group