NEW CASTLE Paver seeks permanent injunction

A hearing was to be held this afternoon.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A Bessemer company is seeking a permanent injunction against International Union of Operating Engineers local 66.
Romano Paving, also known as Cleveland Asphalt, received a temporary injunction Friday after 100 protesters stood outside the East Poland Avenue business for most of the morning chanting and yelling over bullhorns.
Most were wearing sweatshirts with the mug shots of Michael and Thomas Romano, accused of beating a union member who was videotaping their work on West Rayen Avenue in Youngstown last month.
Michael, 37, of Wampum and Thomas, 33, of New Castle, are free on $4,500 bond, each charged with assault and criminal damaging.
Reason for demonstration
Matt Patton, the spokesman for the protesters, said they were there to protest Romano Paving's work and safety record. He specifically cited the beating of Blaine Daughtery II of Willoughby Hills, a member of Laborers International Union of North America, based in Akron.
Walter Romano, president of Romano Paving and father of Michael and Thomas, said the protesters were using safety as a shield to protest his nonunion business.
Most standing outside the business would not identify themselves or say if they were union members.
Patton said he was from Cleveland and represented the Coalition for Workplace Safety.
But in court papers filed Friday, Romano contends that they were union members.
Force, threats alleged
He also contends they used physical force, intimidation and obscene and threatening language to prevent vehicles and pedestrians from coming and leaving the business, court papers stated.
The court papers also mention a balloon of a rat and people dressed in rat and chicken costumes.
"The purpose and objective of the participants is to incite violence and compel Cleveland and Romano to accede to their demands," according to the court papers.
Common Pleas Court Judge J. Craig Cox signed a temporary injunction limiting the number of protesters to six and set a hearing for 1:30 p.m. today. The Romanos want a permanent injunction.
Union officials could not be reached this morning.
cioffi@vindy.com