Business & Tech

Market Basket Supervisor, 7 Others Fired Amid Protests

Eight employees, including one who worked for the company for almost 50 years, lost their jobs in the wake of Market Basket employees show of solidarity to bring back ousted CEO Arthur T. Demoulas.

By Liz Taurasi

As Market Basket employees prepare to start the week continuing to show their support for ousted CEO Arthur T. Demoulas, a supervisor and several employees were fired.

Dean Joyce, supervisor of Market Basket’s Tewksbury warehouse was fired by co-CEO’s Jim Gooch and Felicia Thornton Sunday morning, according to the “We Are Market Basket” website.

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Joyce has been a supporter in the battle by employees and managers to bring back Arthur T.

Early Sunday night, it was announced that seven others were terminated Sunday afternoon after receiving letters via courier informing them of the terminations. Those employees, according to the the Save Market Basket Facebook page include: Tom Trainor, Tom Gordon, Joe Garon, Steve Paulenka, Jim Lacourse, Joe Schmidt and Mike Kettenbach. Garon worked for the company for 49 years before he was let go Sunday. 

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"These gentlemen were fired because they LOVE OUR COMPANY," the group says on its Facebook page. "Think about that and let it settle in. A board of directors and two mercenary CEOs have fired Arthur T. Demoulas, Bill Marsden, Joe Rockwell, Tom Trainor, Tom Gordon, Joe Garon, Steve Paulenka, Jim Lacourse, Joe Schmidt and Mike Kettenbach because they LOVE OUR COMPANY. Are you going to put up with any more of this?"

Demoulas was ousted last month when a majority of the company's board shifted in support of Arthur T.'s cousin and rival, Arthur S. Demoulas. Arthur T. Demoulas was replaced with the two co-CEOs from outside the company.

Employees rallied Friday at Market Basket headquarters in reaction to last Thursday afternoon’s deadline employees set for Gooch and Thornton, seeking to have Arthur T. Demoulas reinstated as CEO. It came and went and the co-CEOs said any workers that don't show up for work on Friday will be replaced.

Joyce is currently the only employee reported to have been fired so far.

Stores throughout the area have been feeling the pinch with produce sections taking the biggest hit without deliveries to markets from the warehouse.

On Monday morning, Market Basket employees plan to resume their posts again but the location has changed. The group will now be assembling at the Tewksbury location, Store #8, 10 Main St. at 9 a.m. Monday morning. 

But they won’t be the only ones rallying on Monday - HQ and warehouse employees are also expected to gather. The following is an email sent to all stores on Sunday:

"Tomorrow our associates at HQ and the warehouses will rally together at 7am on East Street. At 10 O’clock they then will travel to the parking lot at Store #8, 10 Main Street, Tewksbury MA. There they will join a rally which will include as many customers, politicians, vendors and store associates as we can get!”

More on the Market Basket Situation:


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