Three inflatable rats, each standing 16 feet tall, swayed in the wind outside Malcom Randall Veterans Administration Medical Center on Archer Road Tuesday.
Each rat, equipped with a cigar in its mouth, held a banner reading "Shame, Shame, Shame on Malcom Randall VA Hospital."
Beside the rats stood four members of the Sheet Metal Workers Union, protesting a contracting dispute with the hospital.
The hospital will use South Seminole Sheet Metal Inc., a non-union subcontractor for heating and ventilation work in an upcoming expansion project.
"Why would Mr. Cappello, a hospital director, even consider using a non-union contractor that doesn't provide full family healthcare as a company-paid benefit?" said Sam McIntosh, spokesman for Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 15. He referred to Thomas Cappello, director of the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System.
"Union sheet metal contractors provide benefits that put their employees and families firmly in the middle class. We provide pension, representation, grievance procedures and vacations to all our employees," McIntosh said.
Frank Dover, a sheet metal worker who protested beside him, said he was upset that a subcontractor had been chosen from Apopka instead of Gainesville.
"The VA hospital is taking about 60 jobs away from Gainesville residents who could be working on this project right now, providing for their families," Dover said.
Mary Kay Hollingsworth, a spokeswoman for North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, said the decision was not made by the hospital.
The project's general contractor, Archer Western, has sole discretion to choose sub-contractors, Hollingsworth said.
She said hospital workers were asked not to interfere with the protesters, who handed out flyers and waved to bystanders.
"We will be out here as long as it takes," McIntosh said.
