As others have said, it is highly unlikely that are they hiring with the intent of staffing a scab cadre.

The issue for a new hire (less than one year's service) is that he is not officially protected by the union in many circumstances. Legally, post-probation union members can strike and not be disciplined for failing to come to work.

But a new-hire is technically not afforded this right...if he joins the strike, the company can (and probably will) fire him. The good news is that this is a normal company tactic, and at the end of the strike, the union will almost certainly negotiate re-instatement of the "fired" probabationers. Effectively, your friend will strike with everyone else, and he will return to work with everyone else...only difference is that he will be technically "fired" during the strike.

But he should NOT cross the picket line under any circumstances...a job at 9E is not worth that, not even close.