If you live in a union town, you've probably seen the inflatable rats that get set up by unions in front of buildings and jobsites that employ non-union workers.
If not, here's what one looks like (the rats, not the workers):
New York City has experienced a rare occurrence this week: two inflatable rats on a single city block at the same time.
About 20 years ago, Don Newton, a union bricklayer, Chicago bricklayers union, commissioned Big Sky Balloons & Searchlights in Plainfield, Illinois, to create the proto-rat. Newton deemed Big Sky's first attempt "not mean enough," so fangs and "festering nipples" were added.
But, as with most things controversial, there's an odd little twist in the story:
Cart (0)
business news
If not, here's what one looks like (the rats, not the workers):
New York City has experienced a rare occurrence this week: two inflatable rats on a single city block at the same time.
The Asbestos, Lead and Hazardous Waste Laborers’ Local 78 has been protesting asbestos abatement performed by non-union laborers at 60 East 42nd Street and 315 Madison Avenue, which faces 42nd.
About 20 years ago, Don Newton, a union bricklayer, Chicago bricklayers union, commissioned Big Sky Balloons & Searchlights in Plainfield, Illinois, to create the proto-rat. Newton deemed Big Sky's first attempt "not mean enough," so fangs and "festering nipples" were added.
But, as with most things controversial, there's an odd little twist in the story:
Big Sky Balloons & Searchlights (which also makes skunks, greedy pigs, and corporate fat cats in addition to rats), is a non-union shop.
So, the question is, how long before one of Big Sky Balloons' inflatable rats gets set up outside Big Sky Balloons?