Area dealers say Chrysler strike will be brief

Area Chrysler and Dodge dealers say they expect an autoworkers strike to be brief.

“This really isn’t good for anyone, so I think they will settle quickly,” said Vince Palmer, sales manager at Greenwood Chrysler Jeep & Dodge in Cortland.

Dealers based their optimism mostly on the recent strike at General Motors Corp., which ended after two days. Once one automaker reaches terms with the United Auto Workers, the others normally reach agreements with similar terms.

Bargaining at Chrysler Corp. had slowed, however, so the union called a nationwide strike this morning.

Dealers said they had inventory that ranged from 60 days to 120 days, so they didn’t expect to be affected by a short-term strike.

For more on this story, see Thursday’s Vindicator or www.vindy.com.