Two replacements workers crossing picket lines at JB Field's sock manufacturing plant in Trenton appeared in Trenton Provincial Court this week on charges of assaulting strikers in two unrelated incidents.

Both were scheduled for trial, but both accused decided at the last minute to make a plea for lesser charges.

The Crown accepted the pleas.

Dorothy Cooney, 51, 0f 16959 Hwy.2, Trenton, pleaded guilty to causing a disturbance in connection to a slapfest in the basement women's bathroom at the Holiday Inn.

Cooney and other replacement workers were having a meeting July 7 in the Hastings room when they encountered strikers Brenda Begg and Kim Auger in the bathroom.

Cooney slapped Begg across the face and when Auger tried to intervene, Cooney grabbed Auger by the hair, pulling some of it out.

Defence counsel Dan Thompson accused Begg and Auger of spying on the meeting, but Assistant Crown Attorney Lee Burgess said the victims were attending the pub upstairs with friends to catch a World Cup soccer game on television.

In an unrelated incident Aug.8 at the Queensway, another replacement worker, Terri LaFrance, of 4 Bayview Estates, also became involved in a verbal volley with striking worker Brenda Begg.

Tuesday, LaFrance pleaded guilty to causing a disturbance by fighting.

Court heard as Begg was leaving the Queensway parking lot in her vehicle, LaFrance reached through the window and a physical altercation broke out.

LaFrance's defence lawyer Peter Wright apologized to court for the behaviour but insisted that his client wasn't the only instigator and placed part of the blame on Begg.

Judge Stephen Hunter said both incidents were tragic.

"Probably the most unfortunate part about this is that the most vulnerable people here are fighting each other instead of the company..." said Hunter.

Cooney was given a suspended sentence, placed on probation for 12 months, ordered to donate $100 to the Victim Witness program and ordered not to associate with Begg or Auger.