Labor Counsel Fights Protest Icon • Zoo Attack Raises Safety Issue

The Bell Tolls for Scabby

The National Labor Relations Board’s general counsel Peter Robb is looking to exterminate Scabby the Rat, a well-recognized labor protest icon.

A union member stands near Scabby, a giant inflatable rat that is a well-known symbol used by protesters.

Photo by Juana Arias/For the Washington Post

The use of inflatable balloons on job sites was thought to be settled, but Robb is pushing an different interpretation of labor law and the First Amendment. The general counsel took an unusual route to tee up the question for review, Hassan Kanu reports.

Lion Attack Highlights Zoo Safety

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has rules protecting workers from mechanical gear teeth and improperly locked doors. But the agency doesn’t have ...