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Market Basket Turmoil Hurt U.S. Jobs Numbers Last Month

Wikimedia Commons, User Rlaferla

The turmoil at Market Basket actually dragged down U.S. jobs numbers last month.  

In the August jobs report issued Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “employment disruptions at a grocery store chain in New England” is cited as having an impact on food and beverage employment numbers nationwide.

The sector saw a job loss of 17,000 last month.

Thought it’s not mentioned by name, the report is clearly referring to the Market Basket feud, which lasted six weeks and saw thousands of part-time employees see their hours cut.

Workers were protesting the ouster of former CEO Arthur T. Demoulas, who finally managed to purchase a majority share of the company for $1.5 billion.

Customers boycotted during the protest, costing the company millions of dollars daily.

Though now resolved, the situation clearly had a short-term impact on employment.

In New Hampshire, an estimated 8,000 part-time Market Basket workers were affected by cuts to hours.

On Aug. 25, the state reported that nearly 1,500 Market Basket workers had applied for unemployment.

Michael serves as NHPR's Program Director. Michael came to NHPR in 2012, working as the station's newscast producer/reporter. In 2015, he took on the role of Morning Edition producer. Michael worked for eight years at The Telegraph of Nashua, covering education and working as the metro editor.
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