Mandatory and Permissive Subjects of Bargaining

Mandatory and Permissive Subjects of Bargaining

SOME MANDATORY SUBJECTS OF BARGAINING

May not be adopted, changed, or eliminated without prior notice to the union and bargaining on request.

• absence rules

• automation decisions

• bathroom procedures

• bonus programs

• business ethics policies

• clean-up rules

• disciplinary procedures or penalties

• dress codes

• drug/alcohol testing

• elimination of positions

• employee privileges (right to listen to radio, receive phone calls, smoke, etc.)

• employee purchase plan rules

• enforcement of company rules

• evaluation systems

• food service hours

• free coffee

• grievance procedures

• grooming standards

• incentive plans

• insurance benefits

• job qualifications

• layoffs for economic reasons

• light duty policies

• meal or coffee break rules

• merit increases

• new hours or shifts

• number of employees in job classification or department

• outside conduct rules

• outside employment rules

• parking rules

• pay check procedures

• pay raises

• physical examinations

• production quotas

• relocation of bargaining-unit work (generally)

• rest periods

• retirement benefits of current employees

• safety and health rules

• safety awards

• smoking rules

• subcontracting decisions (not including decisions based on a change in the scope or direction of the enterprise)

• tardiness rules

• time off prior to holidays

• transfer of bargaining-unit work to nonbargaining-unit employees

• union steward and officer privileges (paid leave, access to facilities, time of, etc.)

• vacation policies

• wages

• workloads

• work rules

• work schedules

SOME PERMISSIVE SUBJECTS

May be adopted, changed, or eliminated without notice to the union or bargaining.

• decisions (for reasons other than labor costs) to close plants or eliminate departments

• general business practices such as advertising and financing

• nondiscriminatory hiring practices

• pension benefits of already retired employees

• pre-employment testing procedures

• production methods

• selection of supervisors

• subcontracting and relocation decisions accompanied by basic change in the employers operation