By John Dempsey, WLS-AM News

(CHICAGO)  Two brothers who operate the Buona beef chain of restaUrants in the Chicago area have been charged after allegedly scuffling with union members, who were protesting company’s use of non-union labor at new restaurants under construction.

Berwyn police say ​Joseph J. Buonavolanto was charged with one count of battery, and Jim Buonavolanto was charged with two counts of battery, after the incident outside the Buona beef flagship location at Roosevelt Road and Oak Park Avenue.  Both brothers were released on $1,000 bail.

Operating Engineers Union Local 150 spokesman Ed Maher tells “The Big John and Ramblin’ Ray Show” on WLS, that the union members did not do anything wrong.

“Our members were out there protesting the use of non-union labor across all the expansion of these restaurants.  Part of their plan is to build, I think, five new restaurants each year and they’ve committed to use all non-union labor.   So these protestors were out there for roughly two, two and a half hours, and then the Buonavolanto brothers came out and just, with unbridled aggression, just starting taunting the protesters.”

Maher told WLS that the brothers struck a protester’s hand, sprayed the group with water from a hose and destroyed their banner.

The Buona beef company issued a statement apologizing for what happened.    The statement read, “Members of our family did not uphold our values when responding to a union demonstration that disrupted our business.   What started out as a peaceful discussion turned into an unprofessional exchange. This was an isolated incident that occurred in the heat of the moment.”

@ 2017 WLS-AM News