Ordered that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with costs.
We agree with the Supreme Court that the respondent's claims under a collective bargaining agreement to recover salary which arose less than six years prior to the commencement of his grievance are not barred by the Statute of Limitations ( see, CPLR 213). Since the respondent's claim alleges a breach of a collective bargaining agreement (an action at law), the equitable defense of laches cannot be asserted by the appellants ( see, Gonzalez v. Chalpin, 159 A.D.2d 553, 555; Propoco, Inc. v Birnbaum, 157 A.D.2d 774, 776; Brown v. Lockwood, 76 A.D.2d 721). Rosenblatt, J.P., Sullivan, Copertino, Santucci and Goldstein, JJ., concur.