Inflatable Rat: New Joliet Dollar General Faces Controversy

JOLIET, IL — A new Dollar General retail store that just started being built at 500 Houbolt Road is now facing controversy. On Wednesday morning, Joliet's Ironworkers Local 444 put up a huge inflatable rat in front of the construction site to draw attention to the project.

Iron Workers 444 is picketing a Texas company, Maya Erectors, because Maya hires non-union construction workers, also from Texas, and the company does not pay area standard wages and benefits, according to the union workers.

Iron Workers 444 said they are not going away. This was not intended to be a one-day protest. The inflatable rat could remain in front of the Dollar General construction project until the work is done, union representatives told Joliet Patch's editor.