I guess one group of rats deserves another.
YONKERS, N.Y. – City officials said that as many as a dozen rats were set loose in the City Council chambers on Tuesday night, when union workers showed up to protest looming layoffs – a showdown that ultimately included expletive-filled taunts and squealing, scurrying rats.
“It borders on not only disobedience in terms of disorderly conduct … but criminal mischief, because I think there were some things that were broken in the chambers,” said Adam Brill, a spokesman for council President Chuck Lesnick.
The incident came as dozens of Teamsters and other union members gathered outside City Hall to demonstrate against job cuts and included the appearance of a giant inflatable rat that is common at union rallies.
It comes as no surprise that unions resort to criminal mischief and threats to try and get their way. In fact, since 1975 there have been over 9,000 incidents of violence by organized labor. Do the math and that comes out to 2 incidents of violence by unions every 3 days.
Murtagh said he accepts assurances from union leaders who told him that they had no involvement in the release of the rats, an act he called “outrageous conduct by anyone, most especially employees of the city.”
But he also said the incident raised questions about the union leadership.
“If you take them at their word, then that shows to me that they have a complete lack of control over their membership, and indeed that their membership has a complete lack of respect for their leadership,” he said.
Union leaders have complained that they have taken enough hits in recent years as the city has struggled with numerous budget crunches.
This year, lawmakers are facing a $109 million deficit, a shortfall union officials contend can be more easily closed with cuts elsewhere.
Enough is enough. Its time for union thugs to be put in their place.