As classes ground to a halt today with the Hermitage teachers strike, so did renovations at Hickory High School.

"If they set up a picket line, our guys are union electricians. They're not going to cross a picket line," John O'Brien, project manager of Penn-Ohio Electrical Co., Brookfield, said Wednesday.

Three of five contracting firms finishing their projects said their employees would not cross picket lines for any reason.

According to teachers walking the line this morning, no one will work on renovations during the strike.

"We hate to cross a line," said Ken Ratkowski, project engineer from Knott's Interiors in Hermitage, which is supplying carpeting, linoleum and tile. Ratkowski said Knott's employs

some union carpenters.

"We're far enough ahead that we should be OK. It helps us and it hurts us in a way," Ratkowski said. "We can move onto other projects, but we like to complete a project before we start another one. Now we will have to go back. It just throws a monkey wrench in the game."

Mark Hudson of Hudson Construction Inc., Hermitage, is also having his employees, some of whom are union members, work elsewhere during the strike.

"We're just going to pull off until it is settled," said general contractor Hudson. "We're just about complete. We just have a little site work left. A week off won't affect the time line."

"We're just about completed," said project manager Don Stefanak of Rennick Brothers in Slippery Rock, the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning contractor. He added that none of his employees will work during the strike.

"But I will have my employees go in there if something needs taken care of during that time," he said.

Representatives of Sheehan Plumbing and Heating Inc. in Sharpsville were unavailable for comment.

The four contractors available for comment agreed that they should still be able to finish their work on schedule. The project is due to be finished before the end of April, said school Superintendent Karen Ionta.

"Our job is basically done," O'Brien said, adding his firm has only miscellaneous warranty items to finish.

The contractors said they would like to see the strike settled so they can finish their jobs and move on.

"Anytime you start something, you don't like anything to get in the way," said Ratkowski. "I don't like to see strikes. I don't think anyone wins. It takes a long time to recoup the loss."

Mrs. Ionta said she plans to have a gate set up for construction workers who want to work during the strike.

Paul Estock, Hermitage Education Association chief negotiator, said Wednesday evening that picketing teachers would not stop anyone from entering the school grounds.