At eight feet tall, the effigy of Mayor Peter Kelly is hardly life-sized. But its creator, Sebastien Labelle, said it suits him perfectly.

Labelle, with the artists group Puppets Etc., said the behemoth made of papier mâché and cardboard was constructed as a generic politician puppet, but it has seen a lot of action lately as Kelly.

Labelle and friends used the puppet to put on a skit making fun of a council meeting during a union rally on the icy cold steps of Grand Parade on Sunday afternoon.

“It’s a bit of farce, but it’s inspired by the farce that’s happening in council itself,” Labelle said. “It’s to help raise spirits, as well for those who have been on strike for a while now, and we know it’s a difficult thing, so sometimes a little laughter can help with morale.”

Several unions were represented at the titled “solidarity rally” for Halifax Water employees and the striking transit workers. Most prominent was the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 508, which represents the transit employees, and Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 227, representing Halifax Regional Water Commission workers.

“Rallies like this are important for two reasons: the media comes out and shows the public we’re still strong, and it also shows our members we’re still strong,” said Shane O’Leary, vice-president of ATU Local 508.

Transit workers and water workers aren’t “joining forces,” he added, but they are supporting each other.

“Their ambitions are different from ours and we can’t tie into them, but we do support them 100 per cent in their job action,” said O’Leary.

Richard Masters, vice-president of CUPE Local 227, said the 225 water workers can go on strike on 48 hours notice, but they’re not there yet.

“We’re still trying to talk to the employer and hoping they’ll see some reason and come back to the table,” Masters said. “We can’t wait forever. We’ve been without a contract since 2008.”