Union Cracks in DaimlerChrysler Deal

"We are satisfied now that the decision has been made so that our membership and management can focus on designing, engineering and manufacturing the finest quality products for the future success of the Chrysler Group," said Gettelfinger.

The remarks contrast with previous statements from organized labor that sounded staunch opposition to a private-equity acquisition of Chrysler. Morningstar analyst John Novak points out that the only non-private-equity suitor for the company that was reportedly in the running was Magna International (MGA Quote), a Canadian auto-parts maker that has long eschewed organized labor.

"The UAW would be facing the same issues regardless of who turned out to be the ultimate acquirer here," says Novak. "This is a sign that the union is really resigned to the fact that they just can't do much at this point, and they're choosing for the moment to take a more constructive approach to this thing than putting up a fight.

"Certainly, down the road, they have the opportunity to throw a wrench into any significant cost-cutting plans that Cerberus might attempt to make, but that was going to be true of any company," adds Novak.

The UAW now faces the prospect of negotiating with another struggling automaker in Detroit that doesn't have a thriving European parent company to finance its operational difficulties. Last summer, the union refused to make the same concessions on health care costs with Chrysler that it made with its counterparts, General Motors (GM Quote) and Ford (F Quote), because of the superior financial performance of DaimlerChrysler.