Report: Market Basket Aims To Reach Deal By End Of Week
BOSTON (CBS) - There are signs of possible progress in the Market Basket standoff.
According to the Boston Globe, both sides in the Demoulas family feud are promising an all-out effort to strike a deal by the end of the week.
Sources told the paper that company executives have agreed not to fire employees or close stores in the meantime.
The Globe is also reporting that another potential buyer for Market Basket, the parent company of Hannaford supermarkets, has spoken to Arthur T. Demoulas about managing the company if they acquire Market Basket.
New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan told WBZ-TV she was hopeful a deal could be reached soon.
"Gov. Patrick and I, in talking with the principles in the Market Basket dispute, really have encouraged them to keep talking and to find a resolution. We're hopeful that that may in fact be able to happen," she said. "The parties, I know, are working very hard and are working in good faith."
Hassan and Gov. Deval Patrick joined the negotiations last weekend. Market Basket has 70 stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
An employee walkout and a customer boycott of the grocery chain are now in their fifth week.
Workers who continued to protest at the company's Tewksbury headquarters Tuesday appeared skeptical of any deal - for now.
"We've heard nothing definite from our own people and from the group here," said Market Basket worker Mike Cardiff.
Thousands of part-time workers have lost most, if not all, of their hours.
They're demanding the return of Arthur T. Demoulas who was fired as CEO back in June.
The protests started July 18.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz reports
Market Basket Negotiations Continue
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