JOHNSTOWN, Pa. -- Former employees of Freightcar America plant a big victory in early May when a judge granted 200 laid-off employees their back wages and benefits, but despite the good news, the fight to keep the Johnstown plant open continues.

United Steelworkers local president Denny Conahan said he is in good-faith negotiations with officials at the plant to keep it open.

A contract will be necessary for the employees if the judge rules to reopen the plant.

Right now, a handful of employees are still at the plant working under their old contract until all the work is completed, but that could happen by the end of the week.

If the judge rules in favor of the union, work will have to resume at the plant until December 2009.