IN RE N.Y.C. TRANSIT v. ST. PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT

ORDERED that the order and judgment is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with one bill of costs to the respondents appearing separately and filing separate briefs.

The appellants, the New York City Transit Authority and the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority, unilaterally imposed revised standards and penalties governing convictions, moving violations, and motor vehicle accidents involving bus drivers. The revised standards and penalties were more stringent than those in effect at the time the revisions were promulgated. Thereafter, the Amalgamated Transit Union, Divisions 726 and 1056, AFL-CIO and Local 100, Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO (hereinafter the Union), as the recognized bargaining representative of the bus drivers, filed improper practice charges against the appellants, alleging a violation of Civil Service Law § 209-a.1(d).

The Administrative Law Judge (hereinafter the ALJ) determined that contrary to the appellants' contentions, the revised standards and penalties did not constitute qualifications to be satisfied before becoming a bus driver, but rather were terms and conditions to be satisfied to continue employment as a bus driver. As such, they were a mandatory subject of bargaining, and the appellants' refusal to engage in negotiations before imposing the revisions violated Civil Service Law § 209-a.1(d) (see, Matter of Schenectady Police Benevolent Assn. v. Pub. Empl. Relations Bd., 85 N.Y.2d 480, 485; Matter of Board of Educ. v. New York State Pub. Empl. Relations Bd., 75 N.Y.2d 660). Moreover, Vehicle and Traffic Law § 509-j(b) does not either explicitly or implicitly exempt the appellants from their duty to bargain (see, Matter of Schenectady Police Benevolent Association v. Pub. Empl. Relations Bd., supra, at 485-486; Matter of Webster Cent. School Dist. v. Pub. Empl. Relations Bd. of State of N.Y., 75 N.Y.2d 619, 627; Matter of Board of Educ. v. New York State Pub. Empl. Relations Bd., supra, at 667).

The appellants filed exceptions to the determination of the ALJ, and upon review, the New York State Public Employment Relations Board (hereinafter PERB), confirmed the determination. PERB also found that since the revised standards carried a disciplinary component, they were "mandatorily negotiable" (Binghamton Civ. Serv. Forum v. City of Binghamton, 44 N.Y.2d 23; Matter of New York City Tr. Auth. v. New York State Pub. Empl. Relations Bd., 147 A.D.2d 574; City of Buffalo, 23 PERB. 3050).

The determination of PERB was neither irrational, unreasonable, nor affected by any error of law (see, Matter of Board of Educ. v. New York State Pub. Empl. Relations Bd., supra, at 671).