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Another Market Basket family dispute? Here's what to know
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It's here! The WBUR Festival kicks off in earnest today with dozens of panels and performances along Comm. Ave. There are still some tickets left for purchase. And you can also attend the festival's street fair tomorrow for free (and come say hi to some of your favorite WBUR reporters and, ahem, newsletter editors).
But first, the news:
More drama for your dollar: Eleven years after the infamous Market Basket power struggle that led to worker walkouts and multiple documentaries, another family feud is spilling into the aisle at the Tewksbury-based grocery store. As WBUR's Todd Wallack reports, six Market Basket employees are now on paid leave, including its popular CEO Arthur T. Demoulas, due to a dispute with the company's board of directors. Todd spoke to one of those board members, Steven Collins, to better understand the behind-the-scenes tensions that have been brewing for some time.
- Why was Arthur T. put on leave? The official line from the board is that Demoulas was planning to rally another work stoppage in response to board directives. Collins told Todd the board had been pushing Demoulas for more say in major decisions, like succession planning. (According to the board, the 70-year-old wanted the power to appoint his children to succeed him.) But that wasn't the only issue; according to Collins, the board gave Demoulas a list of requests last year, such as creating an annual budget and giving the board more input on spending decisions. "Not a single one was met," he said.
- Who else was put on leave? According to Justine Griffin, a spokesperson for Demoulas, the other five suspended employees include his daughter and son.
- Who made that decision? Demoulas’ three sisters and the three people they appointed to the board led the charge, according to Griffin. She said the move is "farcical cover for a hostile takeover." While Demoulas owns 28% of the company, his three sisters — who were on his side during the 2014 saga — control 60%.
- What does this all mean for workers? The board says Demoulas' suspension will not have any impact on Market Basket workers' jobs, salaries or bonuses. Collins is "hopeful" the dispute won't lead to another work disruption. But as history shows, Market Basket employees and shoppers are very loyal to Demoulas.
The heart of Harvard Square. After five years of renovations, an iconic landmark in Cambridge reopens today. The city is celebrating the return of the little kiosk in the middle of Harvard Square — now officially known as the "Cambridge KiOSK" — with live music, refreshments and speakers from 10 a.m. to noon.
- The 600-square foot building first opened in the late 1920s as an entrance for the Harvard subway station. For decades, it housed Out of Town News until its closure in 2019. Now, the gathering space will host events and rotating exhibits. (Its first is a pop-up newsstand on Cambridge’s print media history.)
Oof: Fenway Park's summer concert series was supposed to start this week. Instead, Live Nation abruptly announced the cancellation of last night's Shakira concert and tonight's Jason Aldean concert "due to unforeseen circumstances." While organizers didn't give a reason, WCVB reports that city inspectors found the stage was not structurally sound and that it "fell apart during rehearsal" yesterday. (Refunds will be distributed through the platform where fans got their tickets.)
Reminder: The first of two disruptive weekend-long construction projects on the Mass. Pike begins tonight. From 9 p.m. until Monday morning, part of the Pike by the I-95 interchange will be reduced to one lane in each direction so crews can replace a bridge. MassDOT warns it could cause major highway backups. And with commuter rail service also suspended, the general guidance is to just stay away from the area. (Click here for everything you need to know about the road work.)
- And for T riders: Most of the Orange Line — from Forest Hills all the way up to North Station — is closed today through Sunday so crews can upgrade its outdated signal system. Free shuttle buses will make stops between Forest Hills and Back Bay. Meanwhile, riders are encouraged to take the Green Line between Back Bay (i.e. Copley) and North Station. Use this diversion graphic to plan your trip.
PSA: State officials are giving out free native plant gardening kits today at over two dozen sites across Massachusetts to mark "Growing Wild Day." The program is intended to help restore habitats for pollinators like bees and butterflies.
P.S.— What exactly does the program LIHEAP help low-income families with? Take our Boston News Quiz and test your knowledge of the stories we covered this week.
