Some delegates boldly pointed out that it would incur added expense to their local because it would throw their election schedules out of sync. Their concerns were ignored. Caucus got everything they wanted, plus raises. The sheep went away happy and nobody had to think too much. The four year convention schedule signals the International s intention to lengthen Big Three contracts to four years.
Corporations prefer longer contracts because they provide stability.
Besides GM doesn t have to live up to contracts they sign. Longer contracts have not proved popular with workers, but the four year convention schedule will impose a longer contract regardless of our feelings. We don t pay much attention to the servomechanism of our union. We focus a lot of attention on the Corporation. And the Corps. want it that way.