A giant inflatable rat welcomed students driving to school this morning, but the reason behind it was initially shrouded in rumor.

While rumors included rats at the school or a senior prank, the fact is that the district administration hired a new company to work on the roof over the summer. This new company, National Roofing Corporation, a non-unionized company, was hired because the company was able to offer the lowest bid. The protesters, however, want the community to know that the National Roofing Corporation has had multiple complaints filed against them for non-compliance with the State of Illinois prevailing wage laws, according to the protesters’ flyer.

“For all the companies that come here and work, they’re supposed to pay the same scale,” Lester Shruter, protester, said. “It makes sense for [the school district] to go with the lowest bidder, but you still have to pay [the workers] the same.”

According to Shruter, the new company will be paid $20 less per hour than standard union wages, which he believes is undercutting union jobs.

“[The protesters] just want people to know district went with a non-union company,” Ryan Rubenstein, assistant principal for student activities and facilities, said. “There were some pretty substantial numbers that were a difference [when it comes to overall cost of the roofing project] between the union and nonunion companies.”

While the protest was aimed at raising awareness, it also raised logistical problems for students this morning.

Lake Zurich police officers went down to the protest to make sure protesters knew the school was requesting them to move over as to not block the line of sight for traffic.

“It is their right to protest the contract and the work that is being done, because they are a union-associated group,” Rubenstein said. “As long as they do it in a fashion that doesn’t impede traffic or is on our property, they have the right to do that.”

Now moved onto the easement in between the high school and May Whitney properties, the protesters claim District 95 is not being true to their mission statement by ignoring a unionized company with “an approved apprenticeship training program.” According to a message on the protesters’ sign, they are looking to appeal to the public, not to “seek any person to cease work.”

“These guys can do what they want to do,” Rubenstein said. “They are upset because a non-union company was selected as the low bidder for the summer roofing project, and they have a right to their opinion.”