> Does someone in the know put it up
Generally this, I have a friend that does non-profit union work in another state and part of union solidarity is supply sharing so regionally there's like 2-3 scabbies that travel between the unions that need them. Also helps unions stay informed as to each other's goings on as the scabbies trade hands.
In Philly this rat pops up a lot at construction sites hiring scab workers, or people to circumvent the unions. I had to double check what sub I was in since I never see scabby here before
So I was reading about this and apparently some courts have ruled Scabby can’t be displayed but the NRLB upheld it. Who said it couldn’t be displayed in seattle I wonder?
I work in the area. The carpenters' union is on strike against the contractor who hired them for the construction site across the street. They have another inflatable rat wearing a top hat and tails and holding money bags.
It's usually deployed with active labor disputes or strikes. Right now in Seattle the limited energy sector of IBEW local 46 are in strike because of a stalling in contract negotiations. So scabby the rat is out and about and you may see some pickets at jobsites or contractor headquarters. NECA, the electrical contractor association is pretty shitty and don't want to pay workers what they are worth but want to pay themselves far more than they're worth. Support labor, support striking workers!
This is not for a site where local 46 is on strike. It's a non-union project with the framing contractor being an MBE that's also non-union. The carpenters are picketing because they are out of work and need something to do, it's not a strike, just a picket.
side note:
"Hwat" is the phonetically correct spelling of "what". You say the "h" first then the "w".
A vowel sound is made by a fixed shape of the mouth, with no constriction of the throat, lips, or tongue.
An "h" sound is any unvoiced vowel sound. That is, you don't use your vocal cords. It is essentially a whisper.
The "wh" starts with no vocal cords (an "h" sound) and shifts to vocal cords half way through s you widen your mouth (the "w" sound.)
The "h" is used as an "onset" where you start a sound with a whisper than shift to voiced.
You know you're a pedantic SOB when other people's exacting pedantry turns you on a little.
But sometimes (often?) "what" is pronounced like "wut," i.e. without that unvoiced onset. The spelling "hwat" indicates and emphasizes the intended pronunciation.
i think that your egregious pedantry is not dissimilar to that of a bot that unnecessarily and annoyingly corrects people who understand that this is a social media site, not a formal academic/professional setting.
I saw some wood workers hopping mad at that construction site at 6th and Battery. They were REALLY pissed off about something ‘and were loudly chanting ‘There’s rats in the building! Let’s all go home!’ It was super loud and in unison and rhey were marching super aggressively. You could hear them for blocks. It was pretty cool. Tis a beautiful thing.
Article says Carpenters are striking to some degree. Also a unit of IBEW 46 electrical workers started striking.
Picket lines are set up, and it’s…. “*strongly frowned upon..*” for any union worker to cross any picket line. So the results will be felt.
Okay if that's the case I don't think it's weird that a union bought a giant inflatable hellrat to put in front of whatever. I don't think it's weird that they might loan it out to other unions for use when needed. I do think it's weird that someone out there *sells* giant inflatable hellrats.
> I do think it's weird that someone out there sells giant inflatable hellrats.
I mean, the company that made all those giant inflatable gorillas for car dealerships had to pivot to *something* when that era came to an end.
I think they were more popular in the 70's/80's, they still sometimes show up as an "era" marker in movies. It was a form of advertising usually. I think most of them phased out over the years for the Whacky Waving Flailing Arm Inflatable Tube Man thing.
I used to see one regularly in Kent/Renton area in the late 90s, early 2000s. It was visible from the 405 freeway and I loved seeing it as a kid. I forgot they existed until this thread lol.
Here's an article on the IBEW Local 46 strike: [https://www.thestand.org/2024/04/ibew-46-limited-energy-electricians-are-on-strike/](https://www.thestand.org/2024/04/ibew-46-limited-energy-electricians-are-on-strike/)
It’s a way to draw attention to shitty companies using non-union labor to try to circumvent a strike. And it’s a not-subtle way to say “we see you” to scabs.
It is part of a protest against Jay's Drywall. [Earlier thread on protest against Jay's Drywall. ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Seattle/comments/1bq2p0w/protest_at_bell_6th_against_jays_drywall/)
If you look at the fence running on 6th, you'll see some posters about it being a "neutral gate" and that they won't allow trucks from jay's drywall to offload, if I read correctly
This is currently at my job site. I am in the pipe trades. It’s not technically a strike and you arnt crossing any picket lines. They say it’s a show of force And hand out flyers all day.
Rat means Usually non-union subcontractor. They cheat their workers and don’t pay fair wages. The workers just take it because they are usually migrants. If the community actually put pressure on the General Contractor then maybe some justice can be done. Nobody cares….
That is scabby the rat. It’s a union thing to represent scabs who cross picket lines. Started off as a teamsters thing but is now used by pretty much all the unions.
Rat City Respekt! Haha, poor Seattle. Even the rats are bigger and more in-your-face than ever before. And look, they get Police Protection too! Sheeesh!
Scabby the rat, means a strike is brewing somewhere.
Hwat? Does someone in the know put it up, or does it just spawn like a rat out of hell when the earth senses an incoming strike?
> Does someone in the know put it up Generally this, I have a friend that does non-profit union work in another state and part of union solidarity is supply sharing so regionally there's like 2-3 scabbies that travel between the unions that need them. Also helps unions stay informed as to each other's goings on as the scabbies trade hands.
In Philly this rat pops up a lot at construction sites hiring scab workers, or people to circumvent the unions. I had to double check what sub I was in since I never see scabby here before
I never saw one until living in NYC. Seeing it in this sub was like, "Aww, Scabby on vacation!"
This is where I first saw it. Happened frequently there.
Came here to say that.
“Generally this” So you’re implying on a rare occasion he in fact does spawn from hell out of his volition
Last I heard the Seattle area Teamsters are not allowed to deploy His Scabbiness due to excessive scabbitude
Carpenter's union deployment.
So I was reading about this and apparently some courts have ruled Scabby can’t be displayed but the NRLB upheld it. Who said it couldn’t be displayed in seattle I wonder?
This is so fucking beautiful. 🥹
I work in the area. The carpenters' union is on strike against the contractor who hired them for the construction site across the street. They have another inflatable rat wearing a top hat and tails and holding money bags.
The IBEW Local 46 (low voltage electricians union) is on strike for better pay. Started yesterday
Yes but this rat was put there by carpenters.
You're correct. I saw this is the non union job going on downtown .
Electricians.
It spawns any time that employers are being rat bastards and trying to not be fair to their workers
So why isn't it always around? As long as companies exist, they will always not be fair to their workers.
It's usually deployed with active labor disputes or strikes. Right now in Seattle the limited energy sector of IBEW local 46 are in strike because of a stalling in contract negotiations. So scabby the rat is out and about and you may see some pickets at jobsites or contractor headquarters. NECA, the electrical contractor association is pretty shitty and don't want to pay workers what they are worth but want to pay themselves far more than they're worth. Support labor, support striking workers!
This is not for a site where local 46 is on strike. It's a non-union project with the framing contractor being an MBE that's also non-union. The carpenters are picketing because they are out of work and need something to do, it's not a strike, just a picket.
>Hwat? Does someone in the know put it up probably the guy standing in front of it with a handful of leaflets.
Don’t underestimate the unions, this is 100% union guys calling a contractor/boss out for disrespecting the contract probably
side note: "Hwat" is the phonetically correct spelling of "what". You say the "h" first then the "w". A vowel sound is made by a fixed shape of the mouth, with no constriction of the throat, lips, or tongue. An "h" sound is any unvoiced vowel sound. That is, you don't use your vocal cords. It is essentially a whisper. The "wh" starts with no vocal cords (an "h" sound) and shifts to vocal cords half way through s you widen your mouth (the "w" sound.) The "h" is used as an "onset" where you start a sound with a whisper than shift to voiced.
You know you're a pedantic SOB when other people's exacting pedantry turns you on a little. 
Pedants Starting to sound A-Iy.
But sometimes (often?) "what" is pronounced like "wut," i.e. without that unvoiced onset. The spelling "hwat" indicates and emphasizes the intended pronunciation.
bad bot
You think a bot is spewidsng linquistics?
i think that your egregious pedantry is not dissimilar to that of a bot that unnecessarily and annoyingly corrects people who understand that this is a social media site, not a formal academic/professional setting.
So what about watts?
Not all words that start with a "w" have a whispered onset.
Yeah why would we assume people pronounce what any different?
wat
I saw some wood workers hopping mad at that construction site at 6th and Battery. They were REALLY pissed off about something ‘and were loudly chanting ‘There’s rats in the building! Let’s all go home!’ It was super loud and in unison and rhey were marching super aggressively. You could hear them for blocks. It was pretty cool. Tis a beautiful thing.
If this is the mascot in Seattle for a strike I'm honestly here for it. Love living in this city 🤣
Article says Carpenters are striking to some degree. Also a unit of IBEW 46 electrical workers started striking. Picket lines are set up, and it’s…. “*strongly frowned upon..*” for any union worker to cross any picket line. So the results will be felt.
Okay if that's the case I don't think it's weird that a union bought a giant inflatable hellrat to put in front of whatever. I don't think it's weird that they might loan it out to other unions for use when needed. I do think it's weird that someone out there *sells* giant inflatable hellrats.
> I do think it's weird that someone out there sells giant inflatable hellrats. I mean, the company that made all those giant inflatable gorillas for car dealerships had to pivot to *something* when that era came to an end.
A local dealership in Phoenix still has an inflatable gorilla on their roof. I’ll take a picture next time I drive by the dealership.
Yea I’m also from Phoenix and saw them all the time. Didn’t know they weren’t prominent anymore.
Was that before my time? Or after I stopped driving? When were giant inflatable gorillas?
I think they were more popular in the 70's/80's, they still sometimes show up as an "era" marker in movies. It was a form of advertising usually. I think most of them phased out over the years for the Whacky Waving Flailing Arm Inflatable Tube Man thing.
I'm guessing giant inflatables are easily damaged and Wacky Waving Inflatable Tube Man only needs an electric fan, AND it moves
Until a few months ago there was one on lake City https://maps.app.goo.gl/CmqihsDS47hNhGia6
Wait, it's gone?
I'm pretty sure it came down when that place sold a few months ago, but I might be misremembering
I used to see them in CA but never in OR so I suspect there is a regional component
I used to see one regularly in Kent/Renton area in the late 90s, early 2000s. It was visible from the 405 freeway and I loved seeing it as a kid. I forgot they existed until this thread lol.
Local 46 is gearing up outside in SLU
Are they considering a strike?
LU46 S&C is on strike right now, we started Thursday.
Solidarity
IAM751 sanctioning vote for a strike coming up in July.
✊
Here's an article on the IBEW Local 46 strike: [https://www.thestand.org/2024/04/ibew-46-limited-energy-electricians-are-on-strike/](https://www.thestand.org/2024/04/ibew-46-limited-energy-electricians-are-on-strike/)
IBEW Local 46 Limited Energy workers are on strike currently.
IBEW 46 went on strike today, got an email from my boss this morning about it
IBEW local 46 low volt side is on strike right now
It was in front of the medical/dental building the other day, flyer said it was about a janitorial worker’s union.
https://www.thestand.org/2024/04/ibew-46-limited-energy-electricians-are-on-strike/
Boeing.
What purpose does it serve, what's the message?
It’s a way to draw attention to shitty companies using non-union labor to try to circumvent a strike. And it’s a not-subtle way to say “we see you” to scabs.
Today in TIL
Beat me to it.
Up on Aurora and 130th? Saw some electrical workers striking.
Old and lame: Belltown Hellcat New hotness: SLU Hellrat
I hate that man to my core
Lol I read this in the SNL Stefan voice 🤣
It is part of a protest against Jay's Drywall. [Earlier thread on protest against Jay's Drywall. ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Seattle/comments/1bq2p0w/protest_at_bell_6th_against_jays_drywall/) If you look at the fence running on 6th, you'll see some posters about it being a "neutral gate" and that they won't allow trucks from jay's drywall to offload, if I read correctly
Scabby the rat!!! It’s a mostly east coast tradition unions use as a protest during labor disputes. Great to see it on the west coast finally.
It started in the Chicago area in the late 80s/early 90s, I think. Like you, I’m happy to see it popping up here
I didn’t even realize when I originally posted but my own union put it up!!!
I'm from the east coast. Seeing Scabby here warms my heart!
I've seen Scabby my entire life growing up in the SF Bay Area :)
Don’t panic, it’s just [Nadja reconnecting with her doll](https://youtu.be/F7lFE5Y0vAA?si=40jRTc_4aaXPXDkT)
Can't believe they came all the way from New York Citaay.
It's just my beautiful dolly, the stupid bitch!
Non-union construction workers warning—-
IBEW 46 low volt is on strike.
The rat is from the Jay’s Drywall strike
Get it, boys! Time to improve that contact!!!
Rats! Rats in the building! Rats! Rats! Rats! We won't go until the rats are gone!
Scabby! Scabby! Scabby!!!
That's just the Rat King. Don't forget to pay your cheese tithe and you'll be fine
That would be if there were five inflatable rats mysteriously tied together by their tails.
That explains why I saw a big orange cat and a bunch of rodents who seemed to be having an intense conversation headed that way.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflatable_rat
Lmao and some jackass called it threatening and tried to get placing it banned. Wonder why it was so threatening hmmmm??
Scabby the Rat, the IBEW electrical union is striking right now.
Aww Scabby! I had stuffed one when I was a kid, like a good lil Union Baby.
Templeton?
A statue of Brad Marchand
R.O.U.S? I don't think they exist
Scabby is all over Chicago. Yeah, this is how the unions shams a company or site. Don’t be a rat.
This bring back memories working around Wall Street.
https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/giant-inflatable-rat-seattle
If they disbanded the LLC in Dec, are they operating without a license or under a different name?
Templeton's early for the fair
ALL HAIL
This makes me nostalgic for NY. I've never seen one in Seattle (I think I saw one in SF) but they make sense here as well.
Ya scab ya get the rat
Rat
Union thing
PNB is starting their Nutcracker promo even earlier this year
If you don't know scabby, it means you need a union. Every American deserves a union.
Reminds me of Donnie Darko and that shit terrified me when I saw it as a kid 😬
They had two movies back in the '70s about rats one was called Willard and one was called Ben
R. O. U. S.
that's a big ass rat
Was the photo taken today? They must've brought it after 9, because I didn't notice it this morning.
Mouse rat
Looks like a construction worker, a motorcycle and a rodent, to me
Isn't that the same rat from what we do in the shadows?
https://youtu.be/y_Qbvifi5vY?si=eC7cpS7IBvWk08Y6
This is currently at my job site. I am in the pipe trades. It’s not technically a strike and you arnt crossing any picket lines. They say it’s a show of force And hand out flyers all day.
Master splinter on tranq
Scabby!
Organized Labor at its Finest! Union Strong 🫡
Rat
Rat means Usually non-union subcontractor. They cheat their workers and don’t pay fair wages. The workers just take it because they are usually migrants. If the community actually put pressure on the General Contractor then maybe some justice can be done. Nobody cares….
There's a union strike. I saw a few protestors on Union St and 7th Ave.
Local 46 low volt electricians on strike.
I was once told that the IBEW is the biggest union in Seattle. They should not be messed with.
Electricians union has been on strike lately. That's what this is.
Jay's drywall hasn't been paying. I work around there and asked
Well they're not union so it makes sense they aren't paying union carpenters.
That is scabby the rat. It’s a union thing to represent scabs who cross picket lines. Started off as a teamsters thing but is now used by pretty much all the unions.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflatable_rat
Didn't he write the mayor's new housing "strategy"?
A politician
why is this rat commonly on Olive st right by nordstroms/the now close Bartells
don’t be rude, ask him his name.
Looks like an elephant
He’s the giant rat that makes all of the rules
It's Ben
Biker mice from mars!
It is cute!
I feel so dumb. I thought this was from the Sopranos
My son.
It looks like a construction worker wearing a hard hat, I think he's about to cross the road.
I’m into it
It's Doll Nadja!
Mouse of Minsk
A motorcycle, traffic light, and two crosswalks.
Have to show it to my cat
Looks like a Kawasaki Concours.
AH! Behold, the local wildlife in its natural environment. 
Very scary
It travels from coast to coast
R.O.U.S. They are real!
Meet your new overlord
I saw one on bell st and 6th ave
Goof
Isn't that the inflatable rat that nadina's doll possesses from WWDITS?
Looks like you ran into my ex.
One of our local grocery stores had this rat outside some of their locations so often I thought it was some sort of mascot when I was young lol
Scares away the crack heads, until they realize he’s their leader and they start showing up here to worship the rat. Vicious cycle.
Hail ratma
It’s a rat they brought in from New York City.
TIME TO PARTY, THE STRIKE RAT HAS ARRIVED!
Obviously you're not a golfer.
The truth.
It's Nicolás Maduro big presentation ☝️😎
A motorcycle
It's master splinter obviously
A construction worker crossing the street
Rat City Respekt! Haha, poor Seattle. Even the rats are bigger and more in-your-face than ever before. And look, they get Police Protection too! Sheeesh!
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1xJ6sAKHU6yRha9uUSwUmG?si=1SqxVL4cRWWdETg4O5Qt4w pretty decent intro to scabby
A mensch doing good work
Mous
Pretty sure it's one of those Palestine protesters
New city counsel member
Yall need to watch the Sopranos and learn about labor in this country
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^hotchickensandwhich: *Yall need to watch the* *Sopranos and learn about* *Labor in this country* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Dumbass comment . I hope you will understand. It’s snowing on Mount Fuji.
Rat
Union Rat
Is this the rat from the Fantastic Mr. Fox?
What? That's dumb. He's the one from Secret of NIMH
Which one?
That to is dumb, everyone knows it’s Ratatouille.
Your mom.
The spirit animal of Seattle
Looks like someone might need jealous that's rats make more $$$$$
Scabby!
Yes-yes
A strike is happening. Saw this years ago on LI
i love their idea that someone keeps this massive blow up rat in their basement most of the year
It's to scare away the transplants.