Latest communication from We Are Market Basket

[graywarrior]

THE 700

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me".--Martin Niemoller

To our valued MB Family Members who received a FedEx letter today,
Felicia Thornton and James Gooch today are sending out letters via FedEx to the 700 Associates who have been out of work due to their creation of a hostile work environment , their security teams and their replacement workers. These letters are being sent to monthly salaried, weekly salaried and hourly wage associates. This is yet another attempt by the BOD and F&G to divide us and conquer us. The letter reads;

"You have not reported to work in several weeks. Since that time, the company has communicated with you on numerous occasions to request that you return to your role. In these communications, the company has welcomed you back to your position without any consequences. Despite these efforts, you have ignored the company's repeated offers to return.

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.

We look forward to your return so that we can resume our efforts to fulfill our customer's needs."
We know that F&G lie to us and we don't trust a thing they say or do, in fact they lie in this letter saying that they have tried on several occasions to contact you. The only way they have tried to contact you is through the media not personally. They swept in after firing ATD, Bill Marsden and Joe Rockwell and immediately started spewing their lies and within four days tried to fire the staff at Indian Ridge. After we asked them to go to their Board and get answers for us they fired the eight executives, that was their first big mistake because instead of cowering like the sheep they thought we were we rose up in solidarity as a family. The office, distribution facilities and stores all joined us in our fight to get ATD back in charge with full authority.

Next came our beloved and devoted customers who picked up our banner and have been boycotting the stores at their own expense to show solidarity with us and our only demand, bring ATD back with full authority. We, unlike the BOD and F&G, have never lied to any of you. You can all see what strength in numbers can do, it also provides for safety in numbers. We have said many times on this website that we don't bluff and we have no intention of bluffing now. To the BOD, F&G and the Class A Shareholders, we will not be backed into a corner. Nor will we abandon any of our MB Family.
F&G are on the verge of terminating 700 devoted MB Family members because these associates have stood up for what they believe and stuck their neck out for all of us, we simply cannot allow that to happen. The Attorney General from Massachusetts has been notified and given a copy of this latest threat against our Family of Associates.

As the quote above states, we will stand strong and stand united because we are the MB Family and we cannot be divided.

WAMB

[senseandsensibility]

1. It's beginning to seem as though the owners just want to break them

and are not open to reason from the workers or their customers. What is their end game? I have read some decent theories from posters near the area. I hope the workers hang tough.

[Populist_Prole]

3. Of course, because it's all about control n/t

[WeAreKochs]

2. Idiots

I have been following this story with interest, not only because of the human interest angle, but because it is likely to go down as one of the biggest deliberate and willful destructions of long-term shareholder value in the history of American business.

Retail is notorious for high turnover (~9 months); in return for their above market wages/benefits, MB employees were unusually loyal. It was not unusual to see people with many years of service working for the company. Savings on recruiting and training costs would offset much of the higher payroll costs (though, admittedly, not all). Devoted employees, earning at least a living wage, also are more productive than those who many be actively looking for higher pay (often, out of necessity).

The destruction of brand value is phenomenal. MB was known as both a low-cost grocery as well as one that offered good quality. In liberal MA, the reputation for social responsibility also helped carry the brand. Over the last few weeks, that goodwill has been tremendously eroded, as stored were under-stocked and the press has publicized the company's long-running family feud once again. As Will Rogers said, "It takes a lifetime to build a good reputation, but you can lose it in a minute."

The short-term costs of the work stoppage are large and growing, not only in absolute dollar terms, but also in terms of disruption to the supply chain, that will take a long time to work through. The company is literally shaving off its nose to spite its face.

Grocery is a low-margin commodity business. Shoppers are usually not particularly loyal. The recent disruption has made shoppers aware that, in some cases, they can do their business elsewhere.

This is a true tragedy for ALL involved!

[graywarrior]

4. Some would rather destroy the company than let anyone else have it.

If MB goes, there will be a disastrous domino effect to the economy. It's already happening.

[Takket]

5. "welcomed you back to your position without any consequences"

Oh really? No consequences? So everyone's pay would remain the same, the benefits would remain the same, hours would remain the same and everyone would continue to receive raises/promotions according to the same procedures that were already in place? They were going to guarantee that?

YEEEEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH RIGHT!

[Downwinder]

6. Read through the comments to this action on the Faceboook page.

They are all mostly customers saying they will take the fight from here.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Market-Basket/136649323208808?fref=nf

[graywarrior]

8. I watched some customer interviews last night on the news

A lot of them are very emotional over this. Market Basket is family. When you see the same workers year after year after year and you know their stories, it's hard not to get emotional. The Demoulas fight has been going on for decades and this feels like a divorce in the family.

Plus it's made everyone aware first hand how despicable corporations are. I think the customers feel that this is a last gasp attempt to fight back so they're not giving in.

[sheshe2]

7. Thanks for the update gray.