Help wanted ads for Cookson Electronics are appearing in newspapers across our area. Cookson's labor attorney says the company is going this route to fill orders and keep the plant operating.

While their current employees walk the picket line, supervisors are doing the majority of the work. The Union representing these workers is asking the company to pay the employees health benefits. Workers say their new contract calls for them to pay an extra 10% for premiums, then increase to 15% in two years. The two sides have negotiated during this strike. The company denies hiring new workers is a scare tactic and says it is legal.

David Andrews is the labor attorney for Cookson. He tells Channel 6 News, "It has to keep up with customer demands so the striking workers have given no choice to the company other than to look for replacement workers."

Cookson hasn't decided if the new employees would be hired on a permanent basis. There is also a possibility some current employees may not be called back. Andrews says the company is waiting on a counter proposal from the union.