Buzz
In areas with significant union influence, it's well-known that non-union commercial construction projects often spark protests. Union members, clad in their distinctive shirts, hit the streets with signs, flyers, and a unique mascot—a towering inflatable rat. This creature, known as Scabby the Rat, boasts sharp buckteeth, menacing claws, glowing red eyes, and a grotesque belly covered in sores and swollen nipples. For decades, Scabby has been a fixture at protests targeting businesses that bypass union labor.
Scabby first appeared in 1990 after the Chicago bricklayers union reached out to Big Sky Balloons and Searchlights in Plainfield, Illinois. They needed something large and repulsive to make a statement at their protests. When Mike O’Connor, the owner of Big Sky, presented his initial design, the union’s feedback was clear: 'It’s not intimidating enough.'
O’Connor revamped the design, adding larger, sharper buckteeth and a stomach adorned with unsettling nipples. The bricklayers were thrilled with the result. (Big Sky also produces other protest balloons like Greedy Pig and Fat Cat.)
Scabby rapidly gained popularity among various unions. The demand for these inflatable rats surged, with Big Sky receiving orders nationwide. The East Coast, particularly New York City, became a hotspot for Scabby, with the local masons’ union acquiring the first one. Over time, the five boroughs hosted at least 30 Scabbys, and 13 of them even gathered for a rally in Union Square.
Today, Big Sky still sells hundreds of rats annually, ranging from a compact 6-foot version to a massive 25-foot model. The 12-foot rat is especially popular, as it fits perfectly in the back of a pickup truck and complies with city ordinances regulating the height of inflatable displays in places like New York.
Scabby has thrived in the 21st century. Federal regulators affirmed that union activists are legally permitted to display the rats during labor disputes. Additionally, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that using the rats in protests is protected under the First Amendment, overturning a local ordinance that restricted inflatable signs to grand openings.
