Scabby the Rat was recently seen holding a banner that accused U.S. Aggregates of using “rat contractors."

Union not protesting U.S. Aggregates, but company it is using

Those traveling on U.S. 421 south of Francesville may have been wondering what troublesome issues were creeping at the U.S. Aggregates site. 
Last week, Scabby the Rat could be seen holding a banner that accused U.S. Aggregates of using “rat contractors.” 
The rat was inflated and watched over by two International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 150 members. 
Scabby has been seen at several different locations in Northwest Indiana because of an issue stemming from a union strike with MacAllister Equipment Rental since February. 
“They have equipment that they have rented from MacAllister and they have also had mechanics coming in and out to service that equipment,” said Ed Maher, communications director for International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 150. “As part of our strike against MacAllister we are engaging in some First Amendment protected free speech.” 
The union has been putting out the banner but not picketing against businesses that do a large amount of business with MacAllister. Maher said the strike began between the union and MacAllister because of unfair labor practice charges filed against them with the National Labor Relations Board. 
“That is for retaliating against their employees for participating in a union election and interfering with Local 150’s right to strike them,” Maher said. “Both of those charges are currently under investigation.”
Local 150 has 23,000 members from northern Indiana and Illinois. 

See the full story in the Pulaski County Journal, available in print and e-edition.

Pulaski County Journal

114 W. Main Street
Winamac, IN 46996

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