No, a union is not allowed to waive its right to negotiate on mandatory bargaining topics. If a union refuses to bargain on a mandatory bargaining topic, then it is violating collective bargaining activities governed by the National Labor Relations Act (SHRM, 2012). The National Labor Relations Board as well as the federal courts have the authority to determine which issues require a mandatory subject for negotiation. In the United States, the Supreme Court has identified two criteria that must be met in order to determine whether an issue is considered a mandatory subject for negotiation. They are as follows: “if it is” clearly linked to the work environment”, and is “not part of those of the managers. The employer was a grocery store, Kroger. Although it was a part-time position while in college, the union was available to full-time and part-time Kroger employees. Employees pay a certain amount of each paycheck to be unionized. Employees are not required to participate in the union. If an employee is interested in learning more about the union, a representative typically meets with them and discusses how much dues are due and how much comes from each paycheck, as well as the benefits of being a union member. The representative also informs the employee of what the union can and cannot do. As a member of this union, several areas required improvement and/or recommendations. As a union member, you could discuss these issues with the union representative. You could speak to the union representative when he or she comes to your store or by phone or email. All discussions with the union representative were confidential. This union often helped resolve conflicts between employees and the employer. These typically involved working conditions, grievance procedures, or disputes related to wages and benefits. Being part of a union has both positive and negative aspects. Sometimes it felt like the union was taking employees' money and not defending their interests. There were times when employees could tell that the union was working in their best interest and to help union members feel safe from unfair treatment. or unsatisfactory work related