Unionized Employees Park Giant Rat Outside Bethesda Offices, My Uncle Tim The Electrician Reportedly Not Involved

Bethesda’s making quite a few headlines this week.

Along with Xbox CEO Asha Sharma gushing about allegedly playing an allegedly-actually-real build of Elder Scrolls 6, it appears that unionized Bethesda employees have employed a true union icon – the giant inflatable rat – to send a message to Microsoft and Xbox executives. Just take a look at the picture above to see what it looks like outside Bethesda HQ.

Now, when I saw this story initially, I had to clutch my chest to catch my breath from laughing so hard. Where I’m from, a city with lots of incredibly strong labor unions, you see the rat every now and then. It’s not new to me in any way shape or form. Usually, when a big contractor snakes around a labor union to embark on a big construction project, the unions will respond by parking the rat outside the development to send a message. And it’s absolutely fucking hilarious to me that this rat has made it’s way to the gaming industry.

All I can think about is my Uncle Tim, who is a retired union electrician, driving the rat to the Bethesda offices. He’s retired these days, but they still call him in now and then to grab the rat from wherever it’s stored to bring it to a new site to shame the contractors into supporting the unions that built our city.

Obviously, layoffs aren’t funny. The giant rat, however, is hilarious. If game devs are gonna continue unionizing, I hope they keep using the rat. Fuck, might as well throw on some high-vis vests, helmets, and smoke cigs inside the job while you’re at it. Couple beers at the 99 on lunch too. Now that’s union baby!!!