Federal Labor Board To Probe Charge Of Unfair Work Practices At Market Basket

BOSTON (CBS) – The Boston office of the National Labor Relations Board will be investigating an unfair labor practice charge filed by a Market Basket employee.

The accusation brings the federal agency into the dispute that has rocked the supermarket chain for more than a month in a standoff with employees and customers.

The employee filed the charge with the NLRB last Wednesday, accusing the supermarket chain of threatening to fire protesting workers, lacking safety, and having a hostile work environment.

The NLRB regional director will determine whether the National Labor Relations Act was violated. If it is found there was a violation, a complaint will be issued and a hearing will be held on the matter.

Arthur T. Demoulas' ouster as CEO in June prompted an employee walkout and customer boycott that has led to empty shelves and few shoppers at the private company's 71 stores in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.

The governors of Massachusetts and New Hampshire last week reported that a deal was close on a sale of the supermarket chain to Arthur T. Demoulas. But a board of directors meeting scheduled for Sunday was called off due to disagreements over some terms of the sale.

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