Gov. Deval Patrick is urging Market Basket employees to go back to work while a deal to sell the chain is hammered out.

Patrick told reporters Wednesday he's spoken to the chairman of the board and with ousted former CEO Arthur T. Demoulas.

Patrick said everybody is interested in a sale and both sides have an understanding or are very close to a sale price.

The governor said his greatest concern is with the supermarket chain workers. He said they have it entirely within their power to stabilize the company by going back to work.

Protesting workers are demanding Arthur T. Demoulas's reinstatement. He was fired in June by a board controlled by his rival cousin, Arthur S. Demoulas, and has been negotiating to buy the company.

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