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[Rusty]

You'll be surprised about how many "scabs" are waiting in the wings to take your job when something like this happens.

Remember Simplex Wire in Newington NH, 1977?

The company is still running and doing very well.

[diz]

Originally Posted by Rusty

You'll be surprised about how many "scabs" are waiting in the wings to take your job when something like this happens.

Remember Simplex Wire in Newington NH, 1977?

The company is still running and doing very well.

I'm having trouble getting my head around this...

1. MB isn't a union shop. I've always understood the term scab to be a reference to non-union employees in a union shop.

2. According to the news the employees are protesting during their off time so they should have no reason to worry about being fired, especially since MB issued a note saying they could come back Monday with no fear of retribution.

3. Have any benefits actually been cut or changed in any way? The media leaves me with the impression that the answer is no.

I'm not trying to take a position on the issue. I just wonder how it got to the point where employees are protesting, customers are forced to shop elsewhere and both politicians and MB are using the media to reiterate laws and advertise job fairs.

[Rusty]

I couldn't think of a better word to use for the person who might take the place of a fired MB employee.

Do you have one?

[diz]

Originally Posted by Rusty

I couldn't think of a better word to use for the person who might take the place of a fired MB employee.

Do you have one?

I don't because I'm still not sure what's really happening. I've seen a lot of news footage of empty shelves, protesting employees and trucks being turned away from loading docks. If the MB employees care so much about the MB family, doesn't that include customers? And the health of the company itself?

All this makes me wonder how a profitable company with such loyal employees and great benefits can bring itself to the position they're in.

[Bigstan]

Originally Posted by Rusty

I couldn't think of a better word to use for the person who might take the place of a fired MB employee.

Do you have one?

It's a little early for that....as they are still playing chicken. Who will blink 1st? I bet the workers pockets are not as deep as the companies....and something as simple as the company saying they will keep the status quo in all ways with customers and emplyees ends the dispute. You can want your CEO back all you want, but you can only hope to influence that decision, not force it.

But what would I call your 'scabs'? A couple possibilities.....

1. Unemployed - someone who needs a job and who will take one in a heartbeat.

2. Ambitous - someone who sees an opportunity to advance their position and sees a great chance to do so.

3. Capitalists - if you can make more money there than you make currently then you take the job.

Nothing wrong with any of the above in my opinion.....if customers differ they dont come back and the company folds - the market will correct itself and we will see who was right.....I am thinking of becoming a 'scab' customer, I am ready to go back and the stores are not empty of anything save produce by me.

Realistically it won't come to that. 5000-15000 employees will not walk away in this economy, and the company cannot hope to hire and train that many replacements. Someone will blink....

[RailroadJoe]

Sure noting has changed under benefits, Now, that is. But wait a few months under the Co-COs are i comand. Then changes to bonuses, cuts in medical plus a few more nasty deals. I'm all for the employes. They deserve a man mike Arther T to lead them, not a greedy bunch of relatives calling the shots behind the CEO's.

[tis]

I am still wondering what is going on too. How do they know that Arthur S is so bad? Have they been told if he takes over specifically what will happen? There must be at least a LITTLE BIT of another half to this story other than what we are hearing. There must be a reason why the board wants to get rid of Arthur T. Anyone know the inside scoop?

[Kamper]

From what I've read in the news, most of the employees are reporting for their shifts and picketing on their own time.

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by RailroadJoe

Sure noting has changed under benefits, Now, that is. But wait a few months under the Co-COs are i comand. Then changes to bonuses, cuts in medical plus a few more nasty deals. I'm all for the employes. They deserve a man mike Arther T to lead them, not a greedy bunch of relatives calling the shots behind the CEO's.

How do you know that this is going to happen?

[nhcatrider]

Having seen some of the memos that went around before I left, ASD wants to cut the bonuses and profit sharing so he can put the money in his own pockets. With the profit sharing we are talking about a plan that is currently worth over 1/2 BILLION dollars, none of which has come out of employee paychecks. As for the bonuses, rumor was christmas was in excess of $35 million each year. Add it up, it's a lot of money. I can understand why a greedy person would want to put their fingers in the pie. Remember, we are talking about someone who makes millions every year, is worth over $1 billion, and it isn't enough.

[gus62]

Just playing devils advocate. You keep saying ASD wants all the money when in reality it would go to all stockholders where ASD is around 17% ownership. Yes his "side" has a slight majority so his actions would/should be based on their wants and not just his.
Any monies that are in a retirement profit sharing fund can not be touched, only the future contributions could change.

[Sue Doe-Nym]

If these employees do not go back to work on Monday, will they expect to collect unemployment benefits?

[nhcatrider]

Depends on how the company puts their reason for unemployment. If they can prove the employee quit, then no they can not collect. If the employee is involuntarily terminated, in Mass they have to be paid all monies owed to them at the end of the day, in NH it's three days.

[tis]

That's what I always thought, but we have had employees quit and they have collected unemployment. I have never figured that out.

[nhcatrider]

I had one quit several years ago and tried to collect. We asked for a hearing and got it squashed.

[Rusty]

Market Basket here they come with resume in hand:

[Farfrumbehavin]

Now that we are at 129 post, all of which have been very informative, written buy very many people with many views from different sides. I have a much better understanding of what's going on here. Suprised at how long this has gone on, while we are waiting for the next chapter of this book to end, let's get our pull our crystal ball down off the shelf, dust it off and tell me what you see looking into the future. The majority of what I know about the situation is what I have read here. Never really knew how employees felt about the company. We shopped at the Tilton store, went in worked our way through the crowd, happy to leave with our groceries knowing that we had saved come money compared to having shopped at Shaw's, where we would have had the store to ourselves. My crystal ball may need calibration but what I see, (because I have become a cynic because I am usually the bug and not the windshield) is that It's obvious that there are huge EGO's at play here given the history, and the person and people who have the power know they have it, and it has come down to simply winning at any cost.When the job fairs are over and everyone has been replaced, qaulified or not, and don't kid yourself, there are people who will take these jobs, the stores will soon be back open and cooperate greed will win again. And if people can SAVE $ by shopping at MB that is exactly what they will do. I can't make it a better place to work, but we are in a world where the rich just get richer, it sucks but it's the way capitalism works. Then the stores will fill back up with customers. Not because they are happy with the outcome but because they will save money. I like many people Hate shopping at Wal-Mart. but there are items that I will go in there for that I save big on, so I do it. We are on a budget! bottom line and my bottom line is more important to me than Arthur S's bottom line. I like 99.9% of shoppers will be gald they supported the efforts of the MB family,but when the smoke clears and everyone forgets about the whole thing because it's not a news story any more, they will be back in the stores taking advantage of the savings if that's where the savings are. I wished this whole issue would change they way they look at how they treat there customers and employees but the bottom line is the bottom line!

[dave603]

Are now suing for the reasons listed in the AGs letter.
MB has dug themselves a big hole to get out of.

[Bigstan]

Originally Posted by dave603

Are now suing for the reasons listed in the AGs letter.
MB has dug themselves a big hole to get out of.

Not really. The managers weren't working, witholding of some or all of a bi-weekly check is thus ok.

Failure to provide an accounting of the profit sharing plan - not available on demand. Sorry, you have to wait for that, it is not due upon termination. Those plans are regulated - I would bet there is legal counsel that knows the requisite timeframes - but safe to say you cannot have a statement on demand.

Spreading disinformation is the key here (willingful or otherwise) - making assumptions based on nothing, basing assumptions on what people think management will do......solidarity is great to see, but everything points towards a management win unless the offer is taken. Boiled down it's 'Corporate greed bad - employees good'. That ends one way...

[dave603]

Not to sure about that, at least for the first guy they fired. They fired him on the Sunday after this started Friday late afternoon, by courier.
Unless his last paycheck was also with the termination letter, by Mass. law, they broke the rules.
Also depends on what reason they used. He was upper level management, so who knows if he is covered or not, but it was becuase he was talking, but after hours.
He may have a case here. Which is only going to muddy the waters even more.

[MAXUM]

I am so sick and tired of hearing the term corporate greed. So if a company decides to circle the wagons, cut back on salaries, employees, benefits or whatever that is considered corporate greed. If executives are given performance bonuses because such actions help stabilize the company and improve profitability they are scoffed at as being evil and greedy. OK fine, then let me introduce the term of employee greed. Employees that expect, insist and demand that they get what they want even if it hurts the bottom line of the company they work for. They expect that holding a menial job means that somehow that is worth a certain salary even though what they do requires no specific talent, skill or education. They demand lavish benefits, profit sharing and bonuses completely clueless as to the cost associated with not only having them as an employee, or what it takes to run a business.

Capitalism isn't evil, in fact it's awesome because it allows anyone who is smart enough, willing enough, eager enough and bold enough to start their own business to do so. Is is a guarantee of success NO, but the chance is there. Is it always fair, nope, but what in life really is? Those that are successful sometimes do get rich and I applaud them for doing so. Why should they not enjoy the spoils of their hard work?

Am I a rich guy? Hell no, I am merely an employee of a company where I know executives that sit well above me are making millions per year benefiting on the contributions that I make every day, that's why I have a job in the first place to provide value. Am I envious of them, no. Do I think it's fair? Well let me put it this way, I am not capable of doing their job, I have neither the background, experience or level of education to do what they do. I also would not want the responsibility, stress or headaches they have to deal with on a daily basis. While it's true they do make a handsome sum of money and do enjoy perks I'll never get, there is a reason for that. Not just anyone can do their job. Therefore for any company to get the best talent they will offer what perks will attract what they are looking for. In the same way the position that I fill not just anyone can do so therefore I am compensated accordingly and get perks others may not get. That is the way things work, don't like it better yourself! I didn't start off in the position that I'm in I worked for it, and very hard. Anyone says to me "must be nice" well it is, but it didn't come cheap and I refused to be just a 40 hour a week widget maker. Been there done that and decided I'm better than that. For those that are satisfied to do that kind of work, or have no ambition to do anything else, don't complain, you made that decision and it has nothing to do with corporate greed.

[tis]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

I am so sick and tired of hearing the term corporate greed. So if a company decides to circle the wagons, cut back on salaries, employees, benefits or whatever that is considered corporate greed. If executives are given performance bonuses because such actions help stabilize the company and improve profitability they are scoffed at as being evil and greedy. OK fine, then let me introduce the term of employee greed. Employees that expect, insist and demand that they get what they want even if it hurts the bottom line of the company they work for. They expect that holding a menial job means that somehow that is worth a certain salary even though what they do requires no specific talent, skill or education. They demand lavish benefits, profit sharing and bonuses completely clueless as to the cost associated with not only having them as an employee, or what it takes to run a business.

Capitalism isn't evil, in fact it's awesome because it allows anyone who is smart enough, willing enough, eager enough and bold enough to start their own business to do so. Is is a guarantee of success NO, but the chance is there. Is it always fair, nope, but what in life really is? Those that are successful sometimes do get rich and I applaud them for doing so. Why should they not enjoy the spoils of their hard work?

Am I a rich guy? Hell no, I am merely an employee of a company where I know executives that sit well above me are making millions per year benefiting on the contributions that I make every day, that's why I have a job in the first place to provide value. Am I envious of them, no. Do I think it's fair? Well let me put it this way, I am not capable of doing their job, I have neither the background, experience or level of education to do what they do. I also would not want the responsibility, stress or headaches they have to deal with on a daily basis. While it's true they do make a handsome sum of money and do enjoy perks I'll never get, there is a reason for that. Not just anyone can do their job. Therefore for any company to get the best talent they will offer what perks will attract what they are looking for. In the same way the position that I fill not just anyone can do so therefore I am compensated accordingly and get perks others may not get. That is the way things work, don't like it better yourself! I didn't start off in the position that I'm in I worked for it, and very hard. Anyone says to me "must be nice" well it is, but it didn't come cheap and I refused to be just a 40 hour a week widget maker. Been there done that and decided I'm better than that. For those that are satisfied to do that kind of work, or have no ambition to do anything else, don't complain, you made that decision and it has nothing to do with corporate greed.

Wow, Maxum! What a post! I feel the same way, I get so tired of hearing about corporate greed. Maybe it is true in some cases. But I never thought of the fact that employees are being greedy when they want all for themselves and don't care about the company they work for. Excellent post! You said it very well!! Thanks!