Advertisement Jack Demoulas urges end to Market Basket 'public circus' CEOs say group worried about attending job fair Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Another member of the Demoulas family is urging associates to return to work as both sides step up their efforts in a workers' revolt and customer boycott that have paralyzed the company and drawn attention to their unusual demand to reinstate the previous CEO.Timeline of events in Market Basket standoffJack Demoulas, the head of dairy and frozen food for the company, wrote in a letter to associates: "We have inconvenienced our customers, traumatized thousands of associates, hurt our suppliers, and made a public circus out of a private dispute."Market Basket standoff in photos | Watch reportThe company had set up a job fair for its workers to replace colleagues who walked off the job to protest the firing of CEO Arthur T. Demoulas.But in a statement, newly appointed co-CEOs Felicia Thornton and Jim Gooch said they heard from many employees who are "concerned for their safety" if they attend the fair, which began Monday. Market Basket said it established an email address so employees can apply for other jobs without attending the fair.Resolute workers and customers rallied again Tuesday continuing their calls to bring back Arthur T. Demoulas."Everybody here is continuing to stay firm in their resolve, staying up and positive and sticking together and it's a powerful moment," said fired employee Joe Schmidt."Every single day, the hate in his heart is lowering the value of this company. We are losing -- literally -- $10 million a day. The volume is down 90 percent, and his nest egg that he's trying to sell is shrinking in value," said fired employee Tom Trainor.While the rally goes on, so does day two of a job fair at the Market Basket facility in Andover. Applicant turnout seemed low Monday. Protestors said that's not because of picketing."The illusion that's trying to be created is that this is a hostile group of individuals that are intimidating people to not apply for the positions, and that's just not the case. What it is is a loyal bunch of people sticking together that aren't going to apply for somebody's job," Schmidt said.Market Basket operates 71 stores in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. The family-owned chain has been plagued by infighting for decades featuring Demoulas and his cousin, Arthur S. Demoulas. In June, a board controlled by Arthur S. Demoulas fired his cousin as CEO, prompting protest rallies attended by thousands of Market Basket employees and supporters who say he kept prices low and treated them well.On Monday, Thornton and Gooch said they were allowing employees to apply for new jobs via email because they feel "associates interested in opportunity should be given an opportunity without fear of intimidation or harassment."Hundreds of warehouse employees and drivers have refused to work for the past two weeks, leaving store shelves severely depleted and prompting customers to shop elsewhere. The company had given workers a Monday deadline to return or work or risk being replaced.Arthur T. Demoulas has sought to buy the company. On Sunday, he offered to return to work to stabilize the company while negotiations continue over his purchase bid.The company's board of directors, however, reaffirmed its support for Thornton and Gooch.In full-page ads taken out in the region's newspapers last week, the company said it will attempt to recruit for various jobs, including store directors and assistant directors.