January 23, 2007
Americans are great about protesting labor woes. You see labor protests in the form of picketing all the time in SF, but here in NY (and in Chicago, where the rodent got its start), unions use giant inflatable rats to protest businesses with controversial labor practices. Recently we got to see one up close. It was about 12 feet tall, set on the back of a flatbed truck, parked just 2 blocks from our apartment. The flyers said "Shame on you!!! Michael Matrisciani," claiming the Park Slope Group exploits construction workers at their properties, with unsafe workplaces, unfair wages, and no healthcare.
This is one balloon you probably won't see in the
Macy's Thanksgiving Parade any time soon!