Pat Barcas photo
IBEW Local 701 protests the opening of the PGA Tour Superstore in Downers Grove in April 2012. Scabby the Rat has been a staple of Chicagoland labor protests since the 1980s and many members are heartily in favor of keeping it around.

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013
     A recent Tweet by the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD) president suggesting labor “retire the rat,” has got local labor leaders uniting to keep Scabby the Rat, the 16-foot inflatable often seen at picket lines and labor protests around Chicago.
     BCTD President Sean McGarvey Tweeted Jan. 23 he was, “Meeting with our Presidents and state councils. Issued a call to retire the inflatable rat. It does not reflect our new value proposition.” The phrase ‘new value proposition’ McGarvey Tweeted is taken from Mark Breslin — noted construction leader speaker on strategy and labor-management relations.
     Breslin has asked unions to look at its appearance, attire and industry image, stressing the industry needs to transform itself from blue collar worker to that of a “knowledge based professional craftsperson.”
     If unions want to present themselves as professional, it seems Scabby the Rat needs to go. Or does it? Laborers’ Local 149 Field Representative Corey Johnson said the most important aspect of Scabby the Rat is its symbolism.
     “We don’t need to get rid of the most iconic symbol of our movement. It’s a rallying point and it’s free speech,” he added. “If labor gives up the rat, what’s next?” Johnson questioned.
     The National Labor Relations Board has ruled that Scabby constitutes symbolic speech and is protected under the first amendment.
     David Raikes, retired Business Manager for Laborers Local 393 in Marseilles, said the rat’s symbolism means a lot to the men and women who walk the picket lines day in and day out in all weather extremes.
     “There are a lot of contractors who have no respect for labor and for unions, and these people continually reap rewards from the hard work of the labor movement over the past 100 years. We don’t use the rat on every picket line, but it is appropriate at times to call these people out,” he said.
     Raikes said he’s fought in court cases for continued use of Scabby.
     “It’s a good eye catcher for the public, when they see the rat, they know the workers there are exercising their constitutional rights. We in the labor industry have to fight for jobs whenever we can within the confines of the law.”
     Any labor leader will tell you that love for Scabby the Rat is a regional passion. The Chicago market is densely organized, particularly in the construction trades, and union members respect and love the rat.
     Ed Maher, communications director for Operating Engineers Local 150, said his union originated the use of Scabby in 1986 in Chicago.
     “We had it custom made along with some rat costumes. One thing I know about the rat, it is effective. It’s hard to abandon it without coming up with a suitable replacement,” he said.
     Maher agreed that discretion in inflating the rat is important.
     “Not every place that we picket has the rat there. We pick places that abuse workers’ rights. They don’t respond to flowery language, but inflate the rat and you get a response.”
     Sure the giant balloon is loved in Chicago, but travel north to Wisconsin, or east to Indiana, and Scabby the Rat is not as well known.
     Pete Culver, Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 21 business agent, said even though neighboring states don’t have or use Scabby the Rat as much, it certainly doesn’t lesson their excitement once they see the giant inflatable. He recalled a rally in Wisconsin where he secured a Fat Cat inflatable to a dolly and wheeled it through the crowd.
     “At first, the crowd parted like we were Moses, and then they just went nuts. The crowd went crazy and it was one of the most memorable days of the rally. Those supporters got it. They understood and the Wisconsin workers were glad the Chicago people came,” Culver said.
     Johnson wanted to make his passion for the inflatable rat perfectly clear.
     “We’re not going to give up the rat. You can have my rat when you pry it from my cold, dead hands. And the same thing goes with my union card,” Johnson said.
     Staff writer Pat Barcas contributed to this story.