Grants are awarded by the Agency to promote best practices in labor-management cooperation as a way of improving collective bargaining and proactively mitigating labor-management disputes. The grants program supports the establishment and operation of joint labor-management committees at the company level, on a community or area-wide basis, within a particular industry, and for public sector employees.

Because of changes in this year’s program, grant applications may be submitted throughout the remainder of calendar year 2005 and until July 31, 2006. Application forms can be obtained online at the agency’s Web site---www.fmcs.gov. (Click here to access application information.) Interested parties are urged to contact the FMCS Grants Office at (202) 606-8181 with any questions they might have.

FMCS Acting Director Scot Beckenbaugh said the past success of Agency grants has shown the benefits of labor-management partnerships. “Helping employers and unions avoid work stoppages and their potentially devastating affects on the local, regional and national economy constitutes the core work and focus of FMCS,” Beckenbaugh said. “Our grants program helps labor and management in projects throughout the country find ways to better manage conflict and develop dispute resolution processes that enhance productivity and overall competitiveness. The benefits multiply when other parties see the results and adopt similar practices.”      

The grants program, which began in 1981 under the authority of the Labor-Management Cooperation Act of 1978 (PL 95-524), has funded a broad range of projects including outreach, communications, strategic planning, minority recruitment and process development. Last year’s grant recipients shared approximately $1.5 million in funds. The maximum grantee award is $125,000.

“Our research and recent experience indicate that labor-management relationships have become more stressful as both sides attempt to cope with increasingly difficult issues, such as globalized competition, pension benefits and rising health care costs,” Beckenbaugh said. “This program offers the parties an alternative to simply fighting about how to resolve their issues. The grants program is designed to encourage innovative thinking, to support cooperative problem-solving efforts and build stronger and more productive relationships.”

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, created in 1947, is an independent U.S. government agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 10 district offices and more than 70 field offices, the agency provides mediation and conflict resolution services to industry, government agencies and communities.