Rats have been used as strikebreakers in many different industries throughout history. In 18th century England rats were used to fill in coal mines that had been abandoned due to strikes. In the 19th century rats were used to break up strikes in the United States.
In 1892 the United Mine Workers of America went on strike to protest wage cuts. The mine owners hired men to drive rats into the striking miners’ homes in an attempt to break the strike.
In 1902 there was a coal strike in Pennsylvania. The mine owners again used rats to break the strike. They placed rats in the miners’ homes and also in the mines to frighten the striking miners back to work.
In the early 1900s there was a nationwide wave of strikes by railroad workers. The strikers were trying to get the railroads to agree to a eight-hour work day. The railroads hired men to drive rats into the striking workers’ camps.
In 1909 there was a strike at the Pressed Steel Car Company in McKees Rock Pennsylvania. The company hired men to bring rats into the strikers’ camp. The rats were used to terrorize the strikers and their families.
In the early 1920s there was a strike at the Ford Motor Company. The company hired men to drive rats into the strikers’ homes.
Rats have also been used to break up strikes in other industries such as the textile industry. In the early 1900s there was a wave of strikes by textile workers in the United States. The textile companies hired men to drive rats into the strikers’ homes.
Rats have been used as strikebreakers because they are feared by many people. They are also attracted to places where there is food which makes them good at finding their way into homes and camps.
The use of rats as strikebreakers is controversial. Some people argue that it is a form of animal cruelty. Others argue that it is a necessary evil in order to preserve order and keep businesses running.
