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Market Basket gives out bonuses in honor of the 10-year anniversary of strikes
In a letter to employees, owner Arthur T. Demoulas thanked them for their hard work and dedication to the store.
On Wednesday, CEO Arthur T. Demoulas surprised his workers with bonuses in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Market Basket walkouts.
“With the summer winding down and Labor Day approaching, I would like to thank each and every one of you for continually meeting the day-to-day challenges of our business and always raising the standard in an effort to make our team and company better,” Demoulas wrote to his employees in a letter obtained by Boston.com.
In the summer of 2014, Market Basket employees opted out of spending warm days at beaches or barbecues in favor of long, enduring days in crowded parking lots for an unusual cause—to save the job of their CEO.
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In June 2014, Arthur T. Demoulas was ousted from his job by his cousin, who was involved in a long-standing family feud. Rather than accept new management, workers decided to take a stand by walking out and staging protests.
Many loyal customers stood with the workers, deciding to go to different grocery stores as they boycotted the “more for your dollar” grocer. The only stops at Market Basket were to tape their receipts from other grocers on store windows.
About six weeks later, Arthur T. Demoulas reached a deal to buy the company’s shares from rival family members led by his similarly named cousin, Arthur S. Demoulas.
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By the next day, employees and customers rushed back to the stores.
A spokeswoman for Market Basket said bonuses were given to all full-time and part-time associates who have been with the company for at least two years.
The company declined to share the scope of the bonuses.
However, one Reddit user and employee at the company noted that they made close to $3,000 in the latest bonus and that bonuses varied based on an employee’s longevity at the company.
Looking back at his remarks upon his return to Market Basket on Aug. 28, 2014, Demoulas said, “In this organization, here at Market Basket, everyone is special. You have demonstrated that everyone here has a purpose. You have demonstrated that everyone has meaning.”
He continued, “Whether it’s a full-timer, or a part-timer, whether it’s a sacker or cashier, or a grocery clerk, or a truck driver, or a warehouse selector, a store manager, a supervisor, a customer, a vendor or a CEO, we are all equal.”
Market Basket opened its first store in Lowell in 1917 and now has 90 stores throughout New England.
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