Meet The Retail CEO So Popular That Thousands Of Workers Staged A Revolt When He Was Fired

[canoeist52]

http://www.businessinsider.com/arthur-t-demoulas-ceo-market-basket-2014-7

"Even customers and politicians have gotten involved, staging boycotts until he is reinstated. Eight employees have lost their jobs for their roles in organizing protests.

Demoulas was also instrumental in giving workers benefits that are almost unheard of in the grocery industry, according to Boston.com. Employees enjoy profit-sharing and bonuses.

"Receiving profit-sharing made workers extremely loyal and aware of wastefulness," former employee Christopher Ward told Business Insider. "It's about more than liking Demoulas as a person...employees are grateful for what he does for them." "

These New England employees are wide awake and we, their customers, support them.

[B Calm]

1. A CEO with common sense and they fire him. . .

[yeoman6987]

5. Family dispute

When the head of Boston grocery chain Market Basket was fired following a family dispute,

Who knows what that could have been, but it might have been personal instead of professional. I think Safeway should scoop him up. That store is the worst and could use a big kick to get it in a better state. I go to Giant due to my hatred of Safeway.

[Armstead]

2. Interesting take in this article

http://cognoscenti.wbur.org/2014/07/23/labor-market-basket-thomas-kochan?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=140723

Analysis of this in a larger context

[canoeist52]

4. Good post.

"First, it demonstrates the growing frustration building among workers at all levels with short-term, self-interested owners and corporate executives who choose to line their own pockets at the expense of the workforce and their customers. In doing so, these employees are taking on the horde of Wall Street analysts who criticize companies that choose to pay employees well and build a loyal customer base rather than just maximize shareholder returns."

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. The Market Basket saga is an incredible story

And we support Arthur T !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sheshe2]

6. I too am boycotting them here.

[MADem]

41. What i love about that pic is that it is plastered on the inside of a MB store door!

You see the classic linoleum on the floor behind....!!!!

[sheshe2]

43. Yes indeed, that floor is hard to miss MADem.

If I have the time tomorrow I may take a drive by the one I shop at and see what's happening.

[meegbear]

7. I went to my local one this morning and this was out in front ..

The shelves are getting emptier and a large majority of people in the area are supporting the workers. It's great to see people care about the plight of these people.

[DirkGently]

8. All it takes is for a few people to do it right

... and for the people to support them in doing it. Nothing scares a greedy business more than an honorable one.

[canoeist52]

9. What the predatory capitalists don't seem to understand...

is that without workers and customers, you have nothing but bricks and mortar.

[seaglass]

10. Interesting that Arthur T (and his father) tried to cheat the other side of the family out of their

share of the company. I support Arthur T as an owner and what he does for the employees but not everything is black and white - lots of low down dirty shit has been done over the last 20 years or so.

[daleanime]

11. So only support perfect people?

[seaglass]

12. Is that what I said? n/t

[daleanime]

14. Fair enough....

give me a different reason for a negative post like that.

[seaglass]

15. Excuse me? n/t

[daleanime]

18. No problem, I'll do more....

it's an invitation. To expand your post and dive into the reasons why you decided to post it.

After all the important thing here is not that thousands of people taking a stand against bad business practices happening right now.

[Gormy Cuss]

17. His father screwed over the other side of the family.

Arthur T. took it in a different direction.

[seaglass]

20. Yes, Arthur T was on board with his father though. I'm not saying that I don't support the

employees, my son worked there up until Jan. this year and still has friends who work there. My husband worked there for years during HS and after in college to pay tuition and he can't say enough about the company and some of the people he knew who were fired.

I'm just saying that the guy, Arthur T, is not some knight in shining armor. He does good for his employees and for the stores but he is willing to play dirty.

[daleanime]

21. And this is important because......

[seaglass]

23. Do you have anything of substance to say? n/t

[daleanime]

25. Yes, I believe in your intelligence....

I think your smart and thoughtful. There's no way you would underestimate the intelligence of your fellow DUers.

So I find your....focus...a little troubling. To be worried about his background over the welfare of his workers and their surrounding communities is...distrubing.

And the more you dodge it, the more I worry.

[seaglass]

28. Yeah, I don't find that either substantive or insightful. Why don't you add to the conversation

about YOUR support for the employees (as I have already articulated mine), instead of your nitpicky little off-topic posts.

[daleanime]

30. Why is it "off-topic" to ask about your posts?

Were they "off-topic" too?




History test which word come first on your original post.

Cheat or Support?

[blackspade]

36. Do you have a link to this info?

Just curious.

[seaglass]

37. Here's some info.

http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2006/12/the-demoulas-trap/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeMoulas_Market_Basket

http://www.lawyersweekly.com/reprints/davismalm2.htm

On edit: Here's a more entertaining version from graywarrior's thread:

http://gloucesterclam.com/2014/07/21/clamsplainer-market-baskets-storied-history-of-crazy/

[Cha]

47. Got a link? Thanks.. I found a link that explains it pretty good!

Last edited Thu Jul 24, 2014, 03:57 AM - Edit history (1)

[freshwest]

13. These fascist weasels fired this man?

What makes Demoulas so popular?

"He takes care of people, he cares more about people than money, he walks among associates and customers," Tom Trainor, an employee of 41 years who was fired Sunday for his role in the protests, told Business Insider. "He knows your name, your wife's name, your husband's name, what school your kids go to."

Trainor rose from bagger to district supervisor during his career at Market Basket.

He said that Demoulas is a great businessman, doubling profits in his eight years as CEO of the company.

"If associate or member of their family was seriously ill, he would personally make sure they received proper medical care," Trainor said. "He went more than the extra mile."

"He shook hands, he attended store openings, he was proud of what everyone accomplished instead of taking credit for himself," Pamela DeSantis White, whose father worked at Market Basket for more than 40 years, told Business Insider.

The dismantling of the fabric of our lives and communities for no good reason must end unless we want to live like feral dogs. Apparently, some think that is the new way to go, with their dog eat dog mentality.

A little more in the way of pictures and details:

At rally, Market Basket workers urged to take protests to stores

Erin Ailworth - July 21, 2014



TEWKSBURY — Yellow caution tape tied to overturned Market Basket carriages cordoned off the wide swath of parking lot at Stadium Plaza where thousands of protestors gathered to call for the return of ousted grocery chain president Arthur T. Demoulas. They waved signs, tooted horns, and cheered in support of the executive, who was fired in late June.

Monday’s rally came a day after eight senior employees, several of them organizers of the protest campaign, were terminated from their jobs...

Democrats were among those who showed their support:

Other speakers included Democratic state senators Barry R. Finegold of Andover and Eileen M. Donoghue of Lowell, who are among 35 state lawmakers who have signed a letter calling for a boycott of Market Basket.

“You are what is good about America,” Donoghue told the crowd. “We are going to stand with you, we are going to fight with you.”

The protests and the firings are the latest development in a remarkable public dispute over leadership of the grocery chain, which has 71 stores in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. On Friday, about 2,000 people gathered at the chain’s headquarters in Tewksbury to support the ousted president. Workers are demanding the return of Arthur T. Demoulas, who was fired in late June by a board controlled by his cousin and chief rival, Arthur S. Demoulas. For decades, the two have feuded over control of the company, which was started by their grandfather...

Many more details at the link:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/07/21/thousands-rally-outside-market-basket-store-for-ousted-ceo/CHFjzEFVhVDKmqYIneb3hP/story.html

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025273477#post2

That was the first I heard of this, but the writer didn't have a link yet, so I googled and posted that to help out.

Although this is my favorite thread so far, because it gives faces and shows the good that can be done in real life. Thanks for posting it!

[IrishAyes]

29. Do you know of a group petition anywhere?

I'm quite willing to act alone, but when something's done en masse it has more effect.

[MADem]

42. They're gathering signatures at the parking lots in front of the stores--at least they were the

other day....

[IrishAyes]

45. Thanks, although I don't live anywhere near the Northeast.

When I signed the petition online, though, which a DUer provided, I listed my address as Maine. Well, I used to live there and my heart's still there, so! Gave a good Maine zip code but fudged the rest. No reason to let the nasty corporates think they could discount my statement. And man, did I ever unload! Said they'd better hire back everyone they fired if they wanted any more business at all. I felt like I was speaking for many who are presently present.

[cstanleytech]

16. I would love if this spread to other retailers all over the country like food lion and bi-lo here

in the south especially as they (bi-lo) just fired alot of their full timers in order to replace them with part timers who they pay a wage thats below the poverty level plus they limit them to roughly 25 hours per week and if they go over those hours they cut their hours the next week.

[daleanime]

22. Amen....

[MADem]

48. It would be great to see--living wages for real people.

Arthur T. was the catalyst, here, as I'm sure you've gathered from the reading of the articles, etc.--I really think having a rallying point of someone on the upper management level who was "fighting the power" is what gave this labor action the boost that catapulted it to the next level.

These people liked their jobs, they felt that their chain of command was responsive, even with all the 'family drama' that had happened in the past.

That attitude, that "We're all in this together" sense, is what makes going to work worthwhile in ANY organization. I just don't understand why upper managers don't frigging GET that. Worker loyalty is a wonderful thing, but it doesn't happen automatically--it's a symbiotic thing.

That intangible will get a corporation through the tough times, and if they have to pay decent wages with decent benefits to get it, it's not a sacrifice--it's an INVESTMENT.

Because the bottom line is this-- when times get rough, if the company has been there for the workers, they'll be there for the company.

[Agschmid]

19. This has been a VERY interesting story to follow...

[canoeist52]

24. And Congressman Tierney speaks up! C'mon Democratic politicians, be brave!

http://tierney.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/tierney-comments-on-market-basket

“I stand with Market Basket employees and urge the new management to listen to their concerns, treat them fairly, and respect their voices. I believe it is in the company, customer and community’s best interest for these employees – some of whom have worked at Market Basket for decades – to be able to articulate their views without having to fear losing their jobs or earned benefits,” said Congressman John Tierney.

Rep. Joe Kennedy has at least two stores in his district, that I know of...

[merrily]

52. Tierney may need all the help he can get in November.

[NealK]

26. K&R

[IrishAyes]

27. I ONCE had a boss like that.

Most of us would've taken a bullet for him. He understood loyalty's a 2-way street, and he held up his end of the bargain.

They're too far and few between, that kind.

[IrishAyes]

31. Thank you, Canoeist52!

I'll check my personal email to see if one of the many newsletters I take has a group petition going about this. Daily Kos is very good about that sort of thing. It's true - I'm a Kossack!

I'd also like to take this opportunity to remind the world that anyone who crosses a picket line for any reason goes straight to everlasting hell. No get out of jail card, free or otherwise.

[canoeist52]

34. Petition site here

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/889/093/719/reinstate-arthur-t-demoulas-as-market-basket-ceo/

goes to the new co-CEOs Jim Gooch and Felicia Thornton

[IrishAyes]

35. Many thanks.

[valerief]

32. Damn, I hate to boycott Market Basket. Damn. I have nowhere to shop now. Everyone

who sells food is now an asshole.

[senseandsensibility]

33. Inspiring story, and I hope he gets his job back.

These workers know where their interests lie, and I hope others will start to realize that soon as well.

[Justice]

38. This latest twist in the continuing saga started about a year ago.

Since the last big court decision in 1998, Rafaele(a) Evans - a sister in law of Arthur S. had been voting with Arthur T because she was angry that Arthur S. tried to assert control over a trust that was set up for this sister in law and her daughter. Rafaele(a) was married to Arthur S.'s brother.

Apparently Rafaele(a) decided last July to vote with Arthur S. and that decision resulted in Arthur S.'s group controlling the appointment of 3 independent directors - who supported big changes to the profit sharing plans (a major component of employees' compensation) and to distributing $300 million dollars to the shareholders.

Rafael(e) and her daughter live in England so they are completely disconnected from the business and frankly the money is likely what caused her to switch alliances.

The family has used lots of dirty tricks on each other over the years and people have no love for them. Arthur T's son in law and his wife did terrible things to an elderly couple in Boston to try to drive them out of their condo.

However, this latest move is designed to completely reshape the economics of the company, to pay employees less money by changing the profit sharing plan and make other changes. I also read that the new CEOs have changed the hours so that (some/many) people are being cut back to 26 hours a week. That will obviously affect their ability to qualify for insurance.

I am supportive of the employees for this reason - Arthur T. is prepared to continue paying the employees whereas Arthur S. wants to strip out money from the company for himself and the other shareholders. I realize that the shareholders own the company, but Arthur T realized that the employees built the company and there was enough money for everyone to benefit.

Edited to add link to facebook page if you want to follow this from the employees' perspective - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Market-Basket/136649323208808?fref=nf.

[whistler162]

39. Sounds like the classic how to destroy

a corporation in two easy lessons.

[canoeist52]

40. If you want to support the truckdrivers and warehouse workers involved in the strike

http://www.gofundme.com/bzt0qk

"We Are Market Basket. We are setting up this fund to support the truck drivers and warehouse workers who are standing alongside us in our fight to save the company we love. Every penny we raise will go to helping these men who need financial support until we have ATD back in charge.

Please help us help them.

We Are Market Basket set this Go Fund Me page up for the truck drivers and warehouse workers earlier today and we should have put a statement on here saying that it was NOT a scam. During today's WGBH radio broadcast with Tom Trainor and Joe Schmidt, it was announced that such a site had been set up and this is it. We want to help these associates. Go Fund Me is a legitimate fundraising site and We Are Market Basket hope to use their site's resources for a good cause.

We are not asking our customers to help them out, though we would certainly be pleased if they did, but rather we are looking for associates to help fellow associates who are standing alongside each other.

You will see the name "Bob Smith" as being involved. We used that pseudonym when we set up this page on FB."

[smirkymonkey]

44. K&R!

I support them! :kick:

[canoeist52]

46. Speak Up! NH - The Controversy at Market Basket -video

&feature=share

On the broadcast; An update on the Market Basket Supermarket protest. A 21st century labor battle that has the support of many customers, defiant employees, and a family-owned business changing its leaders with financial ramifications looming own the road.

Lots of insight from two employees.

[Cha]

49. I bet I'm not the only one who teared up after reading this poignant story.. mahalo canoeist!

[Justice]

50. Some perspective on the family of Arthur T.

Summary of cases against Arthur T's father Telmachas defrauded the wife of his brother George,

Two months after George died in Greece, Telemachus showed up at (widow) Evanthea’s front door with a stack of papers. By the time her brother-in-law left the house, Gerrard had emphasized, the widow’s interest in the family’s real estate had been severely reduced.

http://masslawyersweekly.com/reprints/davismalm2/

[merrily]

51. I don't recall hearing about a boss this well-liked since

Scrooge, after his visit from the ghost of Christmas Future.

MB had good prices, but wasn't near where I live, or I'd boycott.

I am happy to hear MB also had a good boss. I hope the employees succeed.

Good on them!

This should be a lesson to bosses everywhere.

[merrily]

53. Morning news says he's made an offer to buy the company.

[Agschmid]

54. Kick!

Protests continue today, at my stop n shop where we all are going literally the place is a madhouse, all shopping has switched to here.

[senseandsensibility]

55. Thanks for the update.

Keep us posted please. It's great to hear details from those on the ground.