A group of protesting Market Basket workers and others are rejecting a so-called “final ultimatum” from company leaders for some 700 workers at headquarters or distribution facilities to return to their jobs by Friday.
The group, known as “Save Market Basket,” said the letter from current company co-CEO’s is another attempt by they and the company’s board of directors to divide and conquer them, but they will stand strong and stand united. They have protested for nearly four weeks as negotiations are said to be ongoing to an offer by ousted CEO Arthur T. Demoulas to buy the 50.5 percent share of the company held by rival relatives.
According to “Save Market Basket,” the attorney general of Massachusetts has been notified and, “given a copy of this latest threat against our Family of Associates.”
In the letter, company leaders write,
“We are writing one final time, to invite you to return to work and perform your job obligations. If your role requires that you primarily work at the company’s headquarters or distribution facilities, you must return to such role ready to fulfill your duties by no later than Friday, August 15, 2014. Alternatively, if your job is based in the field, you are required to return to work and contact either of us prior to August 15 to review the work you are performing. Should you choose to ignore either of these directives, the company will consider you to have abandoned your job, thereby ending your employment with the company.”
Meanwhile, another group, known as “The Independent Customers of Demoulas Market Basket,” have issued a statement calling upon the company board of directors to “say ‘yes'” to end the nearly four week-old standoff.