AWESOME rally at Store #8 this evening! I am honored to have been able to encourage people to hang in there by speaking. Below is the text of what I said. Hello Basketeers! Its SO GOOD to be here together right where we belong: OUTSIDE Market Basket. And were NOT going back inside until Artie T is there to shake our hands as we walk through the doors. We all know that MB is a success story, a story about hardworking immigrants achieving the American dream. But its also a story about serving the community because you consider yourself part of the community. Its about taking people along with you on the way up, and sharing the wealth you create by paying Associates good wages and giving Customers high quality products at low prices they can afford. At least thats how ARTIE T. ran this company. Sure, we all like to get more for our dollar. But Market Basket customers appreciate Market Basket values. We LIKE the way Artie T. ran this company. And we arent stupid. We know what Arthur S, and the Independent Directors, and Fotene, and Diana, and Rafaela, and Vanessa, and Felicia and The Gooch have in mind. Lets call their plan VAMPIRE CAPITALISM: they want to suck the life out of a successful company by cutting jobs and raising prices so they can inflate their profits along with their egos. But we have a plan too because we know that you can kill vampire capitalism by driving a STAKEHOLDER through its heart. As this crisis developed, the media noted that Market Basket didnt have a website until very recently. I never cared about that. Did you? NO, of course not. But I LOVE walking into a grocery store where the guys are wearing ties. I LOVE going through a register where I know the cashiers name and she already knows that Im going to do it with an exact amount debit. I LOVE waiting for bakery to bring out the hot, fresh loaves of Parisian bread. I LOVE floors clean enough to eat off of. I LOVE getting my bottom round roast ground up, and my $3.99 lb lobster steamed. AND MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, I LOVE shopping in a store where every associate knows where to find what Im looking for, and will go with me to get it. Thats WHY we love Market Basket. And we want OUR Basket back. Associates young and old have learned a lot from working at Demoulas Market Basket. Theyve learned: that the right thing is the only thing worth doing; that sticking your neck out can be a liberating experience; that standing strong isnt so hard when you do it together; that there are more people willing to support you than you ever imagined. And I hear that recently, theyve learned how to throw a Big Fat Greek Protest complete with a lamb on the spit! ASSOCIATES, YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE INSPIRED BY YOU. In the past four weeks, we CUSTOMERS have learned a few things too. Weve discovered that WE are the real bosses. The buck stops right HERE with us, when that buck stays in OUR PURSES, WE—and no one else—are in charge. We found out that while Felicia and Jim can fire 25,000 employees, they CANT fire 2 MILLION CUSTOMERS. But 2 MILLION CUSTOMERS CAN FIRE THEM. We give them the old Donald Trump Youre fired! when we decide that we will no longer pad the wallets, fill the bank accounts, or foot the bill for the golden parachutes of business people who are more about business than they are about people. Thats why were boycotting 71 of our favorite places to be. WE WANT OUR BASKET BACK. And BTW, NOBODY is holding us hostage. WE ARE HOLDING THE SHAREHOLDERS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND CURRENT MANAGEMENT-IF-YOU-CAN-CALL-IT-THAT ACCOUNTABLE. Make NO MISTAKE: This is NOT just about one privately held, regional grocery store chain. What weve been doing is NOT the last stand of the middle class; Its the FIRST SHOT of a Revolution to restore America to the ethical and compassionate business practices that made our nation great. This shot HAS been heard across our nation and around the world. And it has been heard by EVERY companys Board of Directors, not just the one that happens to be meeting at Ropes & Gray. YES, weve fired the FIRST SHOT, but it WILL NOT BE THE LAST! TO all Customers everywhere who are tired of greed and ego, arrogance and injustice, I say: JOIN US. DO YOUR part. Make t-shirts, take out a newspaper ad, join a FB group, bake cookies for protesting workers, honk your horn, decorate your car, tape receipts in a store window, hold a rally, write a letter, post a comment, and bring a friend. And if all else fails: get someone with flare to report from the scene with encouraging online videos (GREAT JOB MR. B!) THIS IS ONLY SOME OF WHAT WE CUSTOMERS HAVE DONE. AND IF WE CAN DO IT, YOU CAN TOO. Lets keep this steamroller going! Lets stand up for companies that care about the communities theyre part of. Lets fight for businesses that are making a difference, and not just a buck. And lets DO IT NOW before there arent any businesses left that are worth standing up and fighting for. How long is this boycott going to last? AS LONG AS IT TAKES. Para todos nuestros clientes hispano-hablantes: Gracias por protestar con nosotros. Gracias por su sacrificio de comprar en otros lugares, para salvar la Market Basket que hemos conocido e amado. Sus voces estan escuchado. OPENING PRAYER Heavenly Father, We come to you asking for your guidance, protection, and help. Lead us in doing what is right. Send your angels to fight alongside us. Protect us from violence. Guard our unity from anger, bitterness, and despair. Keep us in your hand. Give all of us—Customers and Associates—the strength to support those who promote justice and the common good and the courage to peacefully oppose those who do not. Change the hearts of those who place their own power, wealth, and or vengefulness above serving their neighbor. Help us to reach out to one another, and to our communities. Watch over the families of the Associates who are not being paid, and provide for their needs. Assist all—the poor, the elderly, the disabled—who rely on Market Basket for food they can afford. We ask that you bless us, that you right all wrongs, restore what has been lost, and give swift victory to our cause. AMEN.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 01:08:36 +0000
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