Based on available documentation, it appears that Fernandes Super Markets Inc. began to have issues with organized labor around 1964. It was during this year that Local 328 AFL-CIO Meat Cutters and Food Store Workers began to actively protest against the Fernandes Independent Employees Association, based on the argument that the Employees Association was not an union and should not be treated as such.
The issues with organized labor continued through the rest of the 1960s, and up until the selling of the business in 1978.
Below are some documents that highlight what was happening.
This 1973 advertisement from an unknown newspaper, speaks to the union disputes that were occurring. Based upon existing documentation, we can make an educated guess that this was printed during the 1974 union dispute.
Marcia writes "Essentially the supermarket business has tight margins. With wages having been increased, there were concerns that hours would be cut...They found themselves between a rock and a hard place, where they could no longer manage how they staffed the stores. It's a pity that this challenge became a major component of the chain being sold. Ultimately many of those employees lost their jobs. 'You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em' "
Marcia also notes: "I remember another quote from my Dad "People always need to eat", meaning the business was resilient to economic shifts. Between the years 1973 and 1975 there was a recession. In fact, a new term arose, "stagflation", where high unemployment and high inflation existed at the same time. There was also the advent of OPEC and an oil embargo creating long lines and rationing at the gas stations. These economic conditions contributed to the rise of the union within the supermarket chain as well as consumer price sensitivity. Prior to those times the economy was strong and growing."
Brief notice published in the Boston Globe on September 13, 1978.
This is the extent of the known public reporting on the Chapter 11 filing and the subsequent selling of the business.
