Harrison Thorp
Thursday, August 7, 2014 7:11 am

Protesters heckle and peer into cars as job seeker cross the picket lines to seek employment at a Market Basket job fair at its Andover, Mass., distribution center. (Courtesy photo)

Through late afternoon on Wednesday less than 50 cars had passed through picket lines outside Market Basket’s distribution center in Andover, Mass., to file applications for employment with the embattled grocery giant.

The Union Leader of Manchester reported in today’s editions that many of those who did pass picketers turned around in the parking lot and left immediately drawing cheers.

Wednesday was the third of a three-day job fair held at the corporate facility specifically geared to new, outside job seekers. The first two days were for current employees who sought advancement.

After slim pickings the first two days, the low turnout on Wednesday would appear to not bode well for forces aligned with Arthur S. Demoulas in his continuing quest to court new sales bidders for the regional supermarket giant while keeping ousted cousin CEO Arthur T. Demoulas out of the picture.

An online New York Times ad for Market Basket workers viewed today on its website search engine.

Meanwhile, a recent New York Times story reported that a potential buyer had topped the offer by Arthur T., known affectionately as Artie T. by loyal employees.

A check of the newspaper's online presence revealed a website rife with ads for employment throughout the Market Basket chain.

Artie T. and other fired managers have also offered to return to work to right the ship during any pending sale, an offer rejected by current-CEOs Felicia Thornton and James Gooch.

On Wednesday about 25 young employees of the Rochester store continued their three-week-old protests of Artie T.’s firing at the store’s entrance on Milton Road.

“We’ll be out here till it’s over, till Artie T’s back,” said one picketer.