IN RE: the Arbitration Between CITY OF NIAGARA FALLS (2008)

Supreme Court properly denied the petition seeking a stay of arbitration.   Contrary to petitioner's contention, the parties' dispute over healthcare benefits for retired police officers is properly the subject of arbitration based on the terms of the parties' collective bargaining agreement (CBA) (see generally Matter of City of Ithaca [Ithaca Paid Fire Fighters Assn., IAFF, Local 737], 29 A.D.3d 1129, 1130-1132, 815 N.Y.S.2d 761).   Pursuant to the CBA, there is a grievance procedure for any dispute that arises “concerning the interpretation or application of the terms of this contract or of the rights claimed to exist, hereunder,” and the CBA further provides that, in the event that there is not a satisfactory resolution of a grievance, “either party may seek resolution by arbitration.”   The CBA expressly refers to retirement benefits in defining the term grievance, and the grievance procedure set forth in the CBA is “not predicated upon the status of the affected beneficiaries (as active employee or retiree)” (City of Ithaca, 29 A.D.3d at 1132, 815 N.Y.S.2d 761;  see Ledain v. Town of Ontario, 192 Misc.2d 247, 252-253, 746 N.Y.S.2d 760, affd. 305 A.D.2d 1094, 759 N.Y.S.2d 426;  see also Matter of Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-Herkimer-Oneida BOCES [Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-Herkimer-Oneida BOCES Professional Assn., Local 2784], 247 A.D.2d 829, 668 N.Y.S.2d 834;  City of Buffalo v. A.F.S.C.M.E. Council 35, Local 264, 107 A.D.2d 1049, 486 N.Y.S.2d 493).   We thus conclude that respondent is entitled to pursue arbitration on behalf of the retirees.

It is hereby ORDERED that the order and judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.

MEMORANDUM: