Giant Union Rat Has First Amendment Rights, Just Like You

Scabby, the giant inflatable union rat so near and dear to the hearts of working urbanites, won its First Amendment rights in a federal ruling Wednesday, after an asbestos contractor sued to have the rat declared a disruptive practice.

[T]he defendants peaceful use of a stationary, inflatable rat to publicize a labor protest is protected by the First Amendment, ruled Judge Joseph Bianco.

Scabby is often sighted before buildings under construction, where it serves as an unavoidable marker of contractors anti-union practices. Per Bloomberg Businessweeks Josh Eidelson the AFL-CIO decided to phase Scabby into retirement last year; one hopes it has a good pension.

[h/t Bloomberg Businessweek] [Image via RoySmith (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons]

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Giant Union Rat Has First Amendment Rights, Just Like You