Rat Squad
NYC has it’s own distinct protest group that brings along with them a giant blow up rat. They stand outside a particular location, often a business, to make the public aware of something they find rather awful. In this case I was in Union Sq. by the Kids ‘r’ Us. They were handing out fliers for the company removing asbestos on the building. The leaflet they were handing out was touting the removal company was more interested in lining their pockets than doing safe or environmentally responsible work.
I don’t know enough about this organization to say much more. I recall that somehow non union labor has something to do with it. This is not the first time I have seen the Rat Squad.
Have you seen the Rat Squad?
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Great blog!
Most often, these rats are used to signify the use of non-union workers, unsafe working conditions, and basically anything else that ticks off the union related to the situation. There are lots of different rats (some have big ugly oozing wounds, are different colors, etc), and apparently there is also a huge inflatable pig with a cigar as well.
The rat is definitely an "endangered species", as there have been countless lawsuits and legal troubles as the rats have been considered the same as "picketing" by many of the "protested" employers. There are laws regarding protesting and picketing that the rats have narrowly avoided in many cases, but eventually it’s possible they will end up deflated and in storage somewhere…
Thanks lucid. Good to know abit more of the background on the rats.