Catherwood LibraryILR School

Unions have urged DaimlerChrysler not to sell its struggling North American Chrysler business. The president of the United Auto Workers said he would press the firm to hold onto the business despite the heavy losses it has made recently. With contract talks due to begin in the summer, the unions could potentially delay or complicate any sale. Several potential suitors, including businessmen Kirk Kerkorian, are lining up bids for Chrysler. But analysts believe they are only prepared to pay a fraction of the $40 billion which Mercedes-Benz paid for the business in 1998. UAW president Ron Gettelfinger said he believed it was still "an option" for DaimlerChrysler to retain the business.