NEW HAMPSHIRE’S FASTEST GROWING ONLINE NEWSPAPER

Market Basket execs deliver a painful message

Comment Print
Related Articles
Andy McDonough, a store manager at the Rochester Market Basket, yells at a tractor-trailer driver that he's going the wrong way to make a delivery on Thursday at the entrance to the Milton Road store. (Lebanon Voice/Harrison Thorp photos)

ROCHESTER - As about 20 of the 250 Rochester Market Basket part timers who had just been given pink slips picketed at the Milton Road entrance, a scab driver bringing a refrigerated tractor trailer full of perishables turned into the store’s main parking lot pouring salt on the wound and infuriating Andy McDonough, a store manager picketing alongside them.

“You’re driving the wrong way,” McDonough screamed. “Turn that thing around.”

Then to a reporter standing nearby, he added. “Why are they bringing a “reefer” in here. We haven’t sold anything for three weeks, it’s just going to spoil.”

A “reefer” is store lingo for a refrigerated truck, something that hasn’t been seen at Market Basket stores for some time. The driver, from an independent Massachusetts trucking firm, likely did not know how to get to the freight bay and that there is an access road just south of the main entrance.

The unannounced store delivery took managers including store director Chris Sturzo by surprise as they scurried out to the back of the store to find out what was inside the trailer. The delivery made no sense to senior managers, since more than 95 percent of customers have stayed away from the troubled 71-store grocery chain during the three-week customer boycott and many perishables have had to be thrown out.

A Market Basket employee, in orange vest, talks to a scab driver delivering perishables to the Rochester Store on Thursday. This picture was not authorized by any Market Basket employee.

Inside the tractor trailer, which finally found its way to the freight bay in back of the store and can hold about 22 pallets of product, were just four pallets of dairy, meat and deli items, and a couple of bakery racks.

Executive orders from corporate in the last week have indicated that stores had better ratchet up production more in line with expenses, implying repercussions could follow.

“How are we going to sell this,” an exasperated McDonough said. “No one’s shopping here. It makes no sense.”

Another employee who didn’t want to be named said the meat and deli items were among some of the least “perishable,” since if they’re not opened, they can retain freshness for some time.

Still, the chain of events on Thursday seemed to sound an ominous note for even full-time employees, who will now be asked to fulfill many of the tasks part-timers formerly did.

Lucas Hasty, one of the part timers laid off, said he’d worked at the store for two and a half years. He said he’d seen the layoff notice on the Market Basket Facebook page earlier in the day, but reported to work anyway.
“I went in there and my manager told me the news, but I already knew,” he said standing in a white shirt and tie with other picketers. Hasty said his manager told him that when the company gets back to normal with their beloved CEO Arthur T. Demoulas, he’ll be recalled to work.

Another part timer who was distraught and near tears said, “I knew this day was coming. I don’t know what I’ll do.” The woman, who didn’t want to give her name, said she’s been with the company for 16 years. She said she’s hoping everything can get straightened out.

Meanwhile, a press release from current co-CEO Felicia Thornton on Thursday said part-timers are still considered Market Basket employees, a statement of little comfort to those laid off, but may allow corporate to avoid immediate profit-sharing payouts required if an employee is terminated.

The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office said in a press release on Thursday they had been deluged with calls from laid-off workers. The press release urged workers to file for unemployment benefits, but not to call them as there is little they can do.

It is estimated that of Market Basket’s 25,000 employees across Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, at least 80 percent are part-timers.

McDonough, who’s been with the company for 28 years and lives in Rochester, said many of his part-timers have been spied on recently from corporate security who cruise in a blue and silver Subaru around the store parking lot taking pictures and videos of picketers and other employees.

“I don’t know why they’re doing it,” a disgusted McDonough said. “Maybe they think we’re messing with product, but we would never do that. No one would.”

McDonough added that if Artie T. isn’t reinstated the public will never see the low prices again.

“You think some new owner is going to be able to bring in managers who can hammer out prices the way out experienced buyers can, buyers with 30, 40 years in the business. No way. The bean counters will take over.”

McDonough added that without Artie. T, “count me out. I made a pledge I will quit if he doesn’t come back.”

Other full timers who feel the hot breath of a layoff fast upon them were making their own plans.

“I’m getting all my doctor’s visits out of the way fast,” said one, “before I lose my insurance.”

Read more from:
Top Stories
Tags:
market basket
Share:
Comment Print
Powered by Bondware
News Publishing Software

The browser you are using is outdated!

You may not be getting all you can out of your browsing experience
and may be open to security risks!

Consider upgrading to the latest version of your browser or choose on below: