Barrera v. Frontier Central School District

—Judgment unanimously reversed on the law without costs and petition dismissed. Memorandum: Respondent appeals from a judgment that granted the CPLR article 78 petition alleging that respondent impermissibly terminated petitioner’s employment without a hearing in violation of Civil Service Law § 75. Supreme Court thereby annulled respondent’s determination to accept the “resignation” of petitioner from her position as a school bus driver, reinstated her to that position, and granted her back pay and benefits. Respondent contends that petitioner was not entitled to a hearing before respondent accepted her “resignation” pursuant to a provision of the collective bargaining agreement that deems an absence without leave in excess of 10 consecutive work days to constitute a resignation from employment.

An employer’s acceptance of an employee’s constructive resignation, as provided by a collective bargaining agreement, is not a disciplinary action that entitles the employee to prior notice or a hearing (see, Matter of Plummer v Klepak, 48 NY2d 486 , 489-490, cert denied 445 US 952 ). An agreement between the employer and the union constitutes a waiver of the employee’s protections under Civil Service Law § 75. Further, due process is satisfied by the inclusion of a grievance procedure in the collective bargaining agreement, irrespective of