Does anyone know the significance of the inflatable rat? It is placed facing Market st. I have seen it several times in the morning while walking to Suburban Station.

Oh my god, I thought this thread was going to be about an actual rat. *Whew!*

__________________
Freixenet, Moët. Doesn’t really matter, as long as it’s not Great Western. -- Henri David

It's a union thing (at protests and strikes). I need to get me one of those somehow - for a halloween party. But I'm thinking if I run up and try to steal it I'll be killed.

Usually the rat is used as a "union" protest symbol.

Union local "X" upset over the use of non union workers at a job near that site.

I was near there today but I guess I was underground (going to visit L&I) and didnt see the rat.

kaizen is correct, there's also normally a man or a taped recording on a loud speaker saying that "so and so business doesn't support the workers of philadelphia and is using non-union labor"

__________________
fotographia

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/artifact.html

pics on this site
http://www.mrhipster.com/randomness/photoarchive8.shtml

A tape recorder? Instead of a union announcer reading text written by a union writer into the microphone of a megaphone operated by a union electrician?

Where's the solidarity?

Someone has to take over when they're on break at 9:00, 11:00, 12:00, 2:00 and after work is done at 3:00.

__________________
fotographia

One of the rat's more high-profile recent appearances was by the "Real World house" in March 2004 when the local unions were picketing the people renovating the building for the MTV special.

I too thought this thread was about a real flesh-and-blood rat, and am relieved to find it's not.

freaking hilarious

__________________
Welcome to Philadelphia. Here's how you can help us make our great city even better:

• Write to your state and local elected officials
• Report suspicious activity to the police department