- link Copy Url - [ Share on twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The Rat is Back https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/33074?absolute=1&via=3blnews "link to 3 B L Media's Twitter") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/33074?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/33074?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=The Rat is Back&body=ESG News from CSRHub https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/33074?absolute=1 "Share via email") [Responsible Business & Employee Engagement](/CSR-News/responsible-business-employee-engagement) # The Rat is Back Jan 15, 2013 9:15 AM ET ![](https://3blaws.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/carousel_2x/s3/images/ratfinish.jpg) [The Rat is Back](http://www.csrhub.com/blog/2013/01/the-rat-is-back-again.html) *By **Bahar Gidwani*** Yes, the twelve foot inflatable labor rat has returned to my neighborhood. This time “Scabby” (the blog [“Mental Floss” says Scabby is the labor rat’s name](http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/96535)) visited my local grocery store. Apparently the store was resisting an effort to organize its workers. Both sides were clustered under the giant rat, handing out flyers and making their case. The store folks were saying that they already had a union. Later discussions with the employees gave me the impression that they didn’t especially like it. It seems that the current union won’t allow a new employee to join until they have worked for six months. Until an employee joins, she/he doesn’t seem to get overtime (even for working on New Year’s Day?). I didn’t probe for more details, but it struck me again that organized labor is not very organized! Why would one union picket another? Aren’t there plenty of completely un-unionized establishments to work on? Why would a union not welcome anyone into it who wants to join? Does the original union have its own inflatable rat? I read on [Scabby’s Wikipedia page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflatable_rat) that the rat dates from 1991 and is limited to 12 feet in height by local zoning regulations. (Funny to think that inflatable rats are regulated!). Could two unions fighting lead to two rats (maybe different colors?) or a rat and cat combo? (Yes, Wikipedia says there are also inflatable labor cats.) I’ll keep my eyes open and encourage you to do the same. ***Bahar Gidwani** is a Cofounder and CEO of CSRHub. Formerly, he was the CEO of New York-based Index Stock Imagery, Inc, from 1991 through its sale in 2006. He has built and run large technology-based businesses and has experience building a multi-million visitor Web site. Bahar holds a CFA, was a partner at Kidder, Peabody & Co., and worked at McKinsey & Co. Bahar has consulted to both large companies such as Citibank, GE, and Acxiom and a number of smaller software and Web-based companies. He has an MBA (Baker Scholar) from Harvard Business School and a BS in Astronomy and Physics (magna cum laude) from Amherst College. Bahar races sailboats, plays competitive bridge, and is based in New York City.* ***CSRHub** provides access to corporate social responsibility and sustainability ratings and information on nearly 6,700 companies from 135 industries in 82 countries. By aggregating and normalizing the information from 200 data sources, CSRHub has created a broad, consistent rating system and a searchable database that links millions of rating elements back to their source. Managers, researchers and activists use CSRHub to benchmark company performance, learn how stakeholders evaluate company CSR practices and seek ways to change the world.* [![CSRHub LLC](/sites/default/files/Clients/csrhublogo.jpg)](/profiles/csrhub) ### More from CSRHub ###### [Achieved a Major Goal—Let’s Set a New One](/news/achieved-major-goal-lets-set-new-one) Dec 18, 2025 12:30 PM ET ###### [The New California Climate Regulations SB 253 and SB 261 Will Affect Many Well-Known Companies](/news/new-california-climate-regulations-sb-253-and-sb-261-will-affect-many-well-known-companies) Dec 11, 2025 10:55 AM ET ###### [CSRHub Connects to As You Know](/news/csrhub-connects-you-know) Dec 4, 2025 10:00 AM ET ###### [Corporate Values vs. Political Behavior: The 67-Point Blind Spot](/news/corporate-values-vs-political-behavior-67-point-blind-spot) Dec 3, 2025 8:45 AM ET ###### [Move the Needle on ESG Performance With Lever](/news/move-needle-esg-performance-lever) Sep 30, 2025 12:05 PM ET ###### [FiRe Conference Highlights: Supply Chain ESG Risks and Embodied Carbon](/news/fire-conference-highlights-supply-chain-esg-risks-and-embodied-carbon) Aug 7, 2025 11:00 AM ET ###### [CSRHub Data Featured in 2025 Site Selection Sustainability Rankings](/news/csrhub-data-featured-2025-site-selection-sustainability-rankings) Jul 29, 2025 10:50 AM ET ###### [CSRHub Partners With CSR Talent Group To Expand ESG Access](/news/csrhub-partners-csr-talent-group-esg-access) Jul 8, 2025 1:15 PM ET