By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
The rat is back.
The 10-foot-tall inflatable rat balloon, that is, which was the focus of a free-speech lawsuit that made its way to the New Jersey Supreme Court for allegedly violating the township’s sign ordinance.
Monday morning, the inflatable rat balloon was posted outside a gate to The Lawrenceville School by members of Local 78 of the Laborers International Union of North America. The rat is a commonly accepted union protest symbol.
This week’s cameo appearance by the rat follows on the heels of the state Supreme Court decision last month that invalidated a portion of Lawrence Township’s sign ordinance. The court ruled the segment of the sign ordinance that banned the use of certain inflatable signs was unconstitutional and violated First Amendment rights to free speech.
The lawsuit that led to the state Supreme Court’s ruling was initiated after Local 269 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers used the rat to draw attention to a union protest outside Gold’s Gym, on Quakerbridge Road, three years ago.
Meanwhile, LIUNA representatives Jeremias Umana and Sebastian Sokolowski handed out a flier this week, stating The Lawrenceville School had hired Stevens Environmental — which the union claimed was a “substandard company” — to perform “deadly” asbestos abatement.
Flier recipients were urged to contact school officials and to ask them to “hire only responsible contractors to perform this hazardous work.” The flier stated the union was “appealing only to the public,” and it was not “seeking to induce any person to cease work or refuse to make deliveries.”
The driver of one truck honked at Mr. Umana and Mr. Sokolowski, apparently in support of the union protest.
Eli Kent, the director of organizing for LIUNA Local 78, said Stevens Environmental has a history of violating the asbestos code. He said the union knows about it because it obtained a list of the company’s violations from the New Jersey Department of Labor.
Mr. Kent also alleged Stevens Environmental “doesn’t pay workers the standard wage in the industry.” Based on conversations with employees, he said, he believes the company also does not provide health insurance or a pension plan.
“We believe in competition — how efficient you are, not on what you pay. Stevens does not employ union workers, but that is not necessarily what we are protesting,” Mr. Kent said.
Stevens Environmental owner Mahlon Stevens, however, refuted the union’s allegations.
Mr. Stevens said all of his employees are trained and licensed by state authorities to remove asbestos. He said the job sites are inspected periodically by the state to ensure compliance with regulations.
Mr. Stevens also said his employees receive typical benefits, such as 401(K) retirement plans, medical insurance, sick days, holidays and vacation days. He said the union’s minimum wage is about $22 or $23 per hour, and that most of his employees earn more than that amount.
Jennifer Szwalek, director of communications for The Lawrenceville School, said school officials “suspect” the union is protesting the demolition of McGraw Infirmary on campus. The infirmary building, which has been replaced by a new one on another part of the campus, is being demolished to make way for a new dormitory.
Ms. Szwalek said the school has used Stevens Environmental in the past, and the company is “very reputable.” The company holds the necessary licenses and “operates professionally and safely,” she said.
“We hired the best firm, based on the bids we received and on our needs,” Ms. Szwalek said.

