Inflatable Rat At Joliet Dunkin' Donuts Project

JOLIET, IL— Tens of thousands of motorists will notice a giant inflatable rat at Joliet's Six Corners intersection along Raynor Avenue this week. Members of Laborers Local 75 are here on the site, protesting an Addison-based construction firm for using non-union laborers. In recent days, construction of a new Dunkin' Donuts got underway on the vacant parcel next to the Thayer Brothers Deli on Ruby Street.

The Joliet City Council approved the Dunkin' Donuts development this summer.

Representatives of Local 75 told Joliet Patch on Tuesday afternoon that they are striking against Coronet construction, saying that Coronet pays substandard wages to the workers who are building the new Dunkin' Donuts.

"This isn't our first run-in with Coronet," one of the Local 75 representatives told Patch.

Local 75 told Patch they plan to continue picketing at Joliet's busy Six Corners intersection through the end of this week.