Union Rat at Wall and Broad St.s
there is a tradition in our city that when a union feels like they're getting gipped by their employer, they bring out this big inflatable rat to name and shame said employer.
I guess today it's designer/eurotrash hotelier Philippe Starck's day in the limelight.
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angelina(stylishgrrl-at-yahoo-dot-com) says:
how much does it cost to rent that rat for the day?
Alex says:
I have seen a rat just like it in Philadelphia. It was outside of a store which was being picketed by a union.
akc says:
I see this rat all over town. It must indeed be available for rent; or does every union have their own?
Tobias says:
A friend in local politics tells me there are actually *two* inflatable rats making the rounds, and the unions often coordinate with one another so that nobody goes ratless.
Kate (kate-at-tokion-dot-com) says:
These rats were first used by Unions in the United States, actually. Read on...
Twelve years ago, Mike O'Connor, owner of Big Sky Balloons & Searchlights in Plainfield, Illinois, created the first rat at the request of a union member in nearby Chicago. Said the union man of O'Connor's first sketch: "It's not mean enough." O'Connor added bigger fangs and a pink belly with "festering nipples." "I love it," the man said. So did other unions. Today, Big Sky sells between 100 and 200 rats a year--even though it is a nonunion shop itself.
The Rat comes in several sizes, from the squat-looking 6-footer ($2,000) to the towering 30-footer ($7,700). Because many communities have ordinances limiting the height of inflatable displays, the most popular size is the 12-footer, small enough to stand upright in the bed of a pickup truck, yet big enough to attract attention.
Joe says:
Fascinating, thanks for the informative post Kate...unions in britain don't really have a mascot like this...maybe we should take a leaf from your book....saying that, the unions in the UK are relatively powerless since Mrs Thatcher changed all of the laws after the year long miners strike in the 80's....
BF says:
One of these rats was on Lex near Grand Central this morning, too. No sign though (that I could see).
sharky says:
I know the Transportation Workers Assoc. has one -- we used it at a rally outside the shareholders' meeting for our company. there's a pic of me with the rat somewhere...
Pete says:
You know you've truly made it when a 30 ft. Rat has your name all over it. A question - is there a worse animal to use to symbolize corporate greed, excess, etc. ?
Chris says:
I have a rat up my ass.
Frank(frank-dot-lynch2-at-verizon-dot-net) says:
Saw one yesterday in Brooklyn. I have a top-down shot, taken from the fifth floor window of a movie theater:
http://www.samueljohnson.com/blog/parchives/040825.html
They really look like they menace, from above
Dame says:
Is this the same one, or does Philippe get the special second Euro version?
http://www.mrhipster.com/randomness/photoarchive8.shtml
Harry says:
whoa that is scary, whats it made of? looks like a big novelty balloon rat. Quality pic.
Lukakapookie says:
One of the rat's siblings (a slightly larger one, I believe) spent a week in front of Sotheby's (72nd & York Ave) early this August. It was turned to face the main door, so that when you left the building, you had a giant rat hulking over you. It was a lovely touch, I though.
And the Columbia U. grad students had a big rat parked at the main university gates this spring when they were agitating for a union.
Doug says:
I live next door to the Phillpe Stark building downtown. We have had the union guys outside chanting for a few months now and I have been waiting for the rat to finally make his appearance.
It's not an official protest without it!
b says:
there's a rat on n12th and kent at the moment as well.. been there at least a week
2cool(cmhoz70-at-hotmail-dot-com) says:
Wonder if I can borrow the rat and the guy to go stand in front of exwife's house and protest her taking all my shit.
T says:
The Rat only goes to show you how foolish and childish the Union mentality really is, take a look at your taxes and the cost of living today and then ask yourself, has the Union really helped or hurt me? Do they really think that any intelligent person will look at the Rat and say, "Hey, they really seem smart so I want them to direct my life" I'd have to say No. Life is what YOU make of it, not what some money collecting self proclaimed business thinks how your life should be.
