Cerberus-Chrysler, Labor Leaders to Meet

ap ^ | 5/15/07 | Tom Krisher

[Flavius]

ETROIT (AP) -- Cerberus Capital Management LP and leaders of the Chrysler Group will try to convince the leaders of the automaker's workers that their $7.4 billion deal will give workers better job security, restore Chrysler's health and not "strip and flip" the company by selling it off in pieces.

[Flavius]

his article is about the mythical three-headed guard dog. For other uses, see Cerberus (disambiguation).

In Greek mythology, Cerberus or Kerberos (Greek Κέρβερος, Kerberos, "demon of the pit") was the hound of Hades, a monstrous three-headed dog (sometimes said to have 50 or 100 heads) with a snake for a tail; he was also seen with a dragon's tail and serpentine mane.

Cerberus guarded the gate to Hades and ensured that spirits of the dead could enter, but none could exit (additionally no living person was to come into Hades). Among his siblings are; his sister, Chimera and his brother, Hydra. He is the offspring of Echidna and Typhon.

He was overcome several times:

* Hercules' final labour was to capture Cerberus, which he did by wrestling it into submission. * Orpheus used his musical skills to lull Cerberus to sleep. * Hermes put him to sleep with water from the river Lethe. * In Roman mythology, The Sybil of Cumae lulled Cerberus to sleep with drugged honeycakes in order to permit Aeneas fuller entry to the underworld. * In a Greek tale, Psyche also lulled Cerberus to sleep with drugged honeycakes.

In the Greek Oracle of the Dead at Cumae in southern Italy, the recently excavated subterranean shrine was found to contain chains fixed to the wall for three large dogs before the entrance to the shrine of Hades and Persephone. The three dogs would have represented Cerberus in this ancient temple.

[Vaquero]

Time for Cerberus/Chrysler to tell the unions to “Get outta Dodge!”.

(I work for a Cerberus owned company and find them fair and willing to invest for the future)

[fatnotlazy]

“...and not “strip and flip” the company by selling it off in pieces.”

***

To be honest, I think this is exactly what is going to happen. The new owners will set out what they want, the unions will decline, the company will be declared bankrupt and then it will be sold off.

[tcostell]

I’m still hoping for the day that folks like Cerberus develop a taste for airlines.

[Brilliant]

Detroit has changed it’s name to “Etroit?”

Not a bad move, given the supremecy of technology these days.

[TheBattman]

If the deal includes anything less than their current contract, then look for the UAW to throw a fit.

Personally, I would prefer to see the new owners tell the employees- we will match what the Toyota plant is giving. IF you don’t like it, don’t let the door hit you where the Good Lord split you.

But, being a Union controlled state (and anyone wonder why the import makers are choosing everywhere EXCEPT Michigan to produce autos?), this will never happen.

[Ouderkirk]

Diamler-Benz took a major bath on Chrysler and the company needs to be sold off in pieces. There is nothing redeeming in Chrysler’s newest offerings and nothing in the pipeline worth salvaging.

[Vaquero]

Chrysler was used as a cash cow for Dialmer...they made loads of dough on the purchase for many years, then raped the company and put up for quick sale....

you are either out of touch... or are a foreign car snob.

[alloysteel]

“...die, Chrysler, DIE!”

Just like Kaiser, Studebaker-Packard, and American Motors.

Remnants of the corporate entities may still exist after automobile production ceases. But they will never, never get back to making motor vehicles.

[showme_the_Glory]

I’m no MOPAR fan but these are good ideas for cars. Too bad the union and pension funds are such a huge part of the equation.

[ken21]

the unions are the problem.

look at the new toyota camry

and then look at any american pos.

[Vaquero]

the unions are the problem, you are right.

so are the foreign car buying snobs who have not looked at what American manufacturers have made since the mid 90s.

BTW these rice burners that you fawn over are made right here with UAW workers.....

[Ouderkirk]

I have owned many Chryslers beginning with my first car which was a ‘70 383 ‘Cuda. ‘77 Cordoba, ‘80 Cordoba, 87 Ramcharger, ‘94 LHS. After the ‘94 I switched to Toyota and will never buy another Detroit designed/built vehicle until they can match the quality of my 1996 4Runnner.

The 300 you show below, while attractive in print, is an unsightly box on the highway. The Challenger is a concept, that has come and gone...A day late and a dollar short. A 4-door Charger? you must be joking...when are they coming out with the 4 door ‘Cuda?

[ken21]

nissan is not union.

how do you explain the difference in attitude between japanese-owned assembly plants in the u.s.

and american-owned assembly plants?

[Vaquero]

I owned 2 mitsubishis in the 80’s (when American cars were at their zenith) then in the late ninties I went back to American cars and was presently surprised.

I own a 99 Durango and a 99 Intrepid which are both high mileage cars now that are still very good cars. I recently bought a new Mustang and it is a wonderful machine.

the 300 is gorgeous as is the charger (4 door charger? I agree with you).

The challenger WILL be out soon.

My idea of unsightly is those friggin rice burners with the air damn kits and fart can exhaust tips....strictly retard mobiles.

[Vaquero]

how do you explain the difference in attitude between japanese-owned assembly plants in the u.s. and american-owned assembly plants?

and you're an expert on attitude in assembly plants?

[Hot Tabasco]

Diamler-Benz took a major bath on Chrysler

I think the sale was pre-planned from the day they bought it. Max. 10 years ownership then sell.

I worked for a company owned by ThyssenKrupp (also a kraut company). Thyssen Steel merged with Krupp steel back around 1997 and then it was downhill for my company (The Budd Company) since then. We were sold to a Canadian company called Martinrea eff. 12/1/06, and our entire plastics division was sold last summer.

I remember a few years back when the CEO went into our Detroit stamping plant and delivered a message to the employees that there would be no further investment in the plant by ThyssenKrupp unless the plant could guarantee a 16% return on the money. Thats when the slashing and burning by the krauts began and good people were thrown out and some replaced by clueless kraut imports.

That was an absolutely outrageous demand that could not be met and the rest was history.......

[Ouderkirk]

My idea of unsightly is those friggin rice burners with the air damn kits and fart can exhaust tips....strictly retard mobiles.

The "tuner" cars are all the kids have these days. They cannot afford to purchase the antique iron of the late 60's. What else is there for them. They can't all drive mustangs and camaro's. The "fart can" as you put it is the most annoying thing I have ever experienced. The neighbor's kid has a Hyundai Tiberon which he bought new. Within two days he had one of those cans on it and a whole new exhaust. I got tired of hearing him tear-ass up the street at 2am. Took a can of that "Great Stuff Foam " and an extension straw, filled the muffler can with it. When he went to start his car at 2am (he works in a bakery so he leaves for work at 2am) the car wouldn't start. It left on a flatbed to the dealer. Within a couple of hours he and his buddy were back at the house retrieving the OEM exhaust system. Been very peaceful ever since. I have been driving the Pontiac Grand Prix as a rental car when I travel. I like it overall and they seem to have done a good job. The downside, is the 22MPG. This car should have gotten 27MPG. I was always a MOPAR man until that 94 LHS ( Lousy Hunk of S@!t) tranny dead @ 70K, dad a wicked toe in problem in the rear that was constantly being repaired and eating up tires. And on and on. Within three years I was done. Bought my first Toyota in '97 ( used '96 4Runner), and my son is driving my '96 4Runner while I have an '06 and the wife has an '02. Not a problem with any of them.

[-YYZ-]

“Took a can of that “Great Stuff Foam “ and an extension straw, filled the muffler can with it.”

Oh, now that’s not nice. I like it! I wouldn’t do it, but I’d like to do it to all the fart-canned ricers, straight-piped Harleys, and Flow-mastered pickups and Mustangs in my area. I appreciate a good exhaust system on a V8 as much as anyone, but not when I’m sitting at home trying to relax - the others annoy me in all cases.

[eraser2005]

Oh, the Camry that is having problems with its 6 speed automatic transmissions (autoweek story) and costs upwards of $30k when you can get a V6 AWD Ford Fusion that is similarly equipped (except its AWD instead of FWD) for $4-5 less? A car that has also been rated higher in reliability than the Camry by Consumer Reports? And a dead heat in initial quality by JD Power? Or you could get a Five Hundred - truedelta shows the 07 Camry in the shop three times as often as the 06 Five Hundred.