Transport Workers Union finds the subway's 'ugliest rat'

Michael Spivack found the nastiest rat in the subway system.

Spivack, who works at an architectural firm, snapped a picture of the hideous vermin at the 7 Avenue/53rd Street B/D/E station in 2008 for himself, and later sent it to the Transport Workers Union for its online "Rat Gallery."

The photo of the sickly-looking rat as it scurried across the platform's edge won the TWU's "Ugliest Rat" contest Thursday afternoon.

Spivack, 61, was presented with his prize - an unlimited monthly MetroCard - steps away from where he found his award-winning rodent. An inflatable 12-foot rubber rat overlooked the ceremony.

The TWU has started a second online photo competition.

The union has been pushing the MTA to make changes to its garbage collection and removal policies, since straphangers' waste attracts the rats.

The MTA has added more trains to collect underground trash, and also began a pilot program in October to see if removing garbage cans from two stations would reduce the amount of waste workers had to remove.