By Doug Cunningham

The United Auto Workers previously opposed private equity companies buying Chrysler but now says the sale to Cerberus is in the best interests of its members. Canadian Auto Workers President Buzz Hargrove doesn’t see it that way when it comes to private equity firms like Cerberus.

[Hargrove]: “They come in, buy as low as they can get and then throw a lot of people out of work, downsize as much as they can and then - in a very short turnaround period - they sell and make a bundle of money for a small number of executives at the expense of thousands of workers and their families and their communities."

UAW President Ron Gettelfinger says after in-depth meetings with DaimlerChrysler’s board and executives involved in the Chrysler purchase the UAW has concluded now that the sale is in the best interests of UAW workers, Chrysler and Daimler. The CAW is scheduled to meet with corporate executives about the sale today. Hargrove said over the weekend that he’s absolutely opposed to a private equity company coming in and slashing jobs, wages and benefits. He says Chrysler’s new owner will have to respect the union and the workers. And if they come in looking to throw people out of work they’re going to have a hell of a fight with the union.