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 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.