BESSEMER, PA. Crowd protests at paving company

Protesters said they were there because of the paving company's safety record.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
BESSEMER, Pa. -- The noise was so loud it brought Agnes Searfoss to her front porch.
Chanting and sounds of a bullhorn were coming from 100 protesters across the street in front of Romano Paving, also known as Cleveland Asphalt, on East Poland Avenue.
"I've never seen anything like it. They said they are coming back every week. I don't want to see it," said Searfoss, who has lived in Bessemer her entire 74 years.
The protesters were wearing white T-shirts and sweat shirts with the mug shots of two brothers accused of beating up a union member who was videotaping their work on West Rayen Avenue in Youngstown last month.
Michael Romano, 37, of Wampum, Pa., and Thomas Romano, 33, of New Castle, Pa., are free on $4,500 bond, each charged with assault and criminal damaging.
Accused in beating
The brothers are accused of beating Blaine Daugherty III of Willoughby Hills, who was videotaping the paving. Daugherty is a member of Laborers International Union of North America, based in Akron.
The brothers' father, Walter Romano, president of Romano Paving, said the protesters are using safety as a shield to protest his nonunion business.
"They bring up safety. Any company that has been in business for 40 years, I can bring you a stack of papers [about safety issues]," he said. "We've had some bad accidents. But accidents are accidents. They will happen anywhere."
He said his sons and most of his 30 employees were out working on a paving project in Boardman on Friday. The Romano brothers are expected to appear in Youngstown Municipal Court next week.
Outside the office, Romano has kept on display a burned-out truck bearing a sign "Union Terrorists. Join or else. Is this the USA? Are we free?"
The truck, he said, was damaged on the West Rayen Avenue job after his sons were arrested.
The protesters had their own sign on a red pickup truck that read "Don't get screwed by Romano Paving/Cleveland Asphalt." The sign went on to list allegations of breach of contract and lawsuits the company is involved in.
Spokesman for protesters
"It's a worker issue. It's a quality and safety issue," said Matt Patton of Cleveland, spokesman for the group who identified himself as a member of the Coalition for Fair and Safe Workplaces. He said the coalition is a national organization.
Patton said the protest was meant to be peaceful.
"We don't want any physical violence. We just want to raise our voice," he said.
But workers inside Romano Paving said they felt threatened.
Julie Danial, Walter Romano's daughter, said the protesters were taking pictures of her car and license plate when she arrived. She said people with Ohio license plates have also been driving past their home, and just before Halloween, a package was left in her father's truck.
Bessemer Police Chief Jim Lombardo said he was called to Romano's home and found the package was filled with papers citing workplace problems with Romano.
"We are afraid something is going to happen," said Danial, who was videotaping the protesters.
Among those milling on the sidewalk in front of the business were a man dressed in a chicken suit and another in a rat suit. A parade-sized inflatable rat was on the corner.
"We're not here to start any trouble," said Ed Drzga of Cleveland who was standing near the large rat.
"We're just here to show we're not happy. Signs like that are antagonistic," he said referring to the Romano's sign on the burned-out truck.
Joining in
Patton said protesters came from Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.
Denny Forsythe from Laborer's Local 833 in New Brighton, Pa., said he came to support safe workplaces and paid benefits.
"I just heard about it this morning. I've been in the union for 35 years," he said. He said about 14 men from his local were there.
Others refused to give their names, but said they were there to support the workplace-safety cause.
Pennsylvania State Police were called to assist the Bessemer police chief, who was the only officer on duty Friday morning.
About five state troopers parked near the protesters and reported no problems. They said the protesters left around noon.
Patton said they expect to be back.
"I don't see this as being a one-time event. We just want to get through to them," he said.
cioffi@vindy.com