Jason Plummer’s rat job

Godfrey—Jason Plummer, the Republican candidate for Congress in the 12^th District of Southern Illinois, is well known in the labor community for his anti-union attitudes. Plummer purchased Monticello Plaza here last year through his development company, Midwest Asset Group.  When Electricians Local 649 in Alton found out that Plummer had hired Perfection Electric, a nonunion contractor paying less than area standard wages to do the electrical work on a building in the plaza, they put a rat outside the building along with four union electricians to greet plaza customers and drivers along Highway 67. The highway runs between the plaza and Lewis and Clark Community College and a lot of drivers were honking their approval of the rat after it went up on a sunny morning last week.

“We want voters to know that these are the kinds of jobs Plummer is promoting.” said Alan Rubenstein, business manager with Local 649. “ One of the electricians in there is making $12 an hour. Another is making $17. Plummer makes his money with blue collar people who are paid low wages and no benefits.”

Electricians joining the rat included from left: Luke Gifford, Jim Sloan, Jeremy Beasley and Mick Bensman.

— Labor Tribune photo