permissive subject of bargaining
permissive subject of bargaining. Labor law. An employment or collective-bargaining issue, other than a basic employment issue, that is not required to be the subject of collective bargaining but that cannot be implemented by management without union approval. • For example, altering the scope of the bargaining unit does not affect a term or condition of employment, so it is a permissive, instead of mandatory, subject of bargaining. Disagreement on a permissive subject of bargaining cannot be used as the basis for an impasse in negotiating a collective-bargaining agreement, unlike a mandatory subject of bargaining. — Often shortened to permissive subject. Cf. MANDATORY SUBJECT OF BARGAINING . [Cases: Labor Relations 178. C.J.S. Labor Relations § 155.]
