Case Name: In the Matter of City of Poughkeepsie, Respondent, v. City of Poughkeepsie, Unit, Local 486 Civil Service Employees Association, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1980-10-14
Citations: 78 A.D.2d 653
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of City of Poughkeepsie, Respondent, v City of Poughkeepsie, Unit, Local 486 Civil Service Employees Association, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 78
Pages: 653–653

Head Matter:
In the Matter of City of Poughkeepsie, Respondent, v City of Poughkeepsie, Unit, Local 486 Civil Service Employees Association, Appellant.

Opinion:
In a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 75 to stay arbitration, the appeal is from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Dutchess County, dated March 31, 1980, which granted the application. Judgment reversed, on the law, without costs or disbursements, proceeding dismissed and parties are directed to proceed to arbitration. Compliance with step-by-step grievance procedures contained in collective bargaining agreements are procedural issues that must be decided by the arbitrator and not the court (Matter of Board of Educ. [Newburgh Teachers' Assn.], 58 AD2d 636). These are conditions in arbitration and not conditions precedent (see Matter of County of Rockland [Primiano Constr. Co.], 51 NY2d 1). Thus, compliance with the grievance procedure established in the collective bargaining at issue here must be decided by the arbitrator. Special Term erred in deciding this issue and granting a stay of arbitration. Mollen, P. J., Hopkins, Titone and Weinstein, JJ., concur.