CAN ALL ISSUES BE NEGOTIATED IN THE CONTRACT?
Not all subjects can be addressed through the bargaining process. By law, there are mandatory, permissive, and prohibited subjects of bargaining. Although contract negotiation is a central event in the life of a union, it is not the only event. Moreover, the bargaining table is not the only venue in which the union advocates on behalf of its members. Issues pertaining to your job title and the salary grade assigned to it, for example, are addressed with Civil Service. Retirement benefits are a prohibited subject of negotiation and must be addressed legislatively. Certain agency practices are addressed through contract enforcement and the labor/management process.
