Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service https://www.fmcs.gov/ HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? Thu, 12 Nov 2026 20:54:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 FMCS and FLRA Sign Memorandum of Understanding https://www.fmcs.gov/fmcs-and-flra-sign-memorandum-of-understanding-to-promote-mediation-of-federal-sector-negotiability-disputes/ Thu, 12 Nov 2026 20:46:59 +0000 https://www.fmcs.gov/?p=40326 On Wednesday, November 4th, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) and the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a voluntary mediation process to help federal agencies and labor organizations resolve negotiability disputes before they proceed to a decision by the FLRA. The new process provides agencies and unions [...]

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]]> On Wednesday, November 4th, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) and the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a voluntary mediation process to help federal agencies and labor organizations resolve negotiability disputes before they proceed to a decision by the FLRA. The new process provides agencies and unions an opportunity to address these disputes through facilitated discussions before the FLRA resumes consideration of the appeal.

This agreement reflects both agencies’ commitment to promoting constructive labor-management relationships and providing federal-sector parties with additional opportunities to resolve disputes collaboratively. Read more about this MOU in our press release available [here].

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]]> FMCS Publishes Final Rule for Arbitration Panel Requests https://www.fmcs.gov/fmcs-publishes-final-rule-for-arbitration-panel-requests-2/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:18:20 +0000 https://www.fmcs.gov/?p=40276 On October 29, 2026, FMCS published a final rule in the Federal Register, updating part of its arbitration regulations, 29 C.F.R. § Part 1404. This final rule clarified that the FMCS Office of Arbitration (OA) will not provide any service that FMCS “may not lawfully provide.” To this end, the final rule allows for OA [...]

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]]> On October 29, 2026, FMCS published a final rule in the Federal Register, updating part of its arbitration regulations, 29 C.F.R. § Part 1404. This final rule clarified that the FMCS Office of Arbitration (OA) will not provide any service that FMCS “may not lawfully provide.” To this end, the final rule allows for OA to “conduct a limited threshold inquiry to determine whether [providing a service] would be inconsistent with applicable law, a court order, or FMCS’s statutory or regulatory authority.”

FMCS thanks the commenters on this rule for their helpful input, some of which FMCS adopted into the final rule. These adoptions included clarifications that the threshold inquiry will be “limited to whether FMCS may lawfully provide the requested service”; that “[a] party’s contention that a grievance lacks merit, is untimely, or is not arbitrable under the parties’ agreement, or a party’s disagreement with a grievance or unwillingness to participate in the arbitration, does not by itself establish” that FMCS cannot lawfully provide the requested service; and that requests placed in abeyance under the new rule will be eligible for a refund or credit for any fees paid.

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]]> FMCS and FLRA Announce Negotiability Partnership https://www.fmcs.gov/fmcs-and-flra-announce-negotiability-partnership/ Tue, 13 Oct 2026 16:13:53 +0000 https://www.fmcs.gov/?p=40274 On October 13, 2026, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) and the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) announced a new program to provide labor organizations and agencies the chance to resolve negotiability appeals through mediation before they are considered by the FLRA’s three-Member decisional component (the Authority). See the Federal Register notice for full [...]

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]]> On October 13, 2026, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) and the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) announced a new program to provide labor organizations and agencies the chance to resolve negotiability appeals through mediation before they are considered by the FLRA’s three-Member decisional component (the Authority). See the Federal Register notice for full details.

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]]> 2020 https://www.fmcs.gov/2020-2/ Tue, 08 Dec 2020 18:06:33 +0000 https://www.fmcs.gov/?p=25655 On Aug. 10, 2020, representatives from Bath Iron Works and International Association of Machinists Local S6 signed an agreement with FMCS' assistance to end the shipyard worker strike in Bath, Maine. The 63-day strike drew national attention against the backdrop of a global pandemic and in an election year.

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]]> On Aug. 10, 2020, representatives from Bath Iron Works and International Association of Machinists Local S6 signed an agreement with FMCS’ assistance to end the shipyard worker strike in Bath, Maine. The 63-day strike drew national attention against the backdrop of a global pandemic and in an election year.

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]]> 2019 https://www.fmcs.gov/2019-2/ Tue, 03 Mar 2020 16:47:50 +0000 https://www.fmcs.gov/?p=24107 In April 2019, The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and FMCS officially committed to work together to resolve federal workplace disputes by utilizing ADR as a means of efficiently reducing the backlog of federal sector charges. And, in June, FMCS and the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) announced a new commitment to work [...]

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In April 2019, The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and FMCS officially committed to work together to resolve federal workplace disputes by utilizing ADR as a means of efficiently reducing the backlog of federal sector charges.

And, in June, FMCS and the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) announced a new commitment to work together to provide labor organizations and agencies with an opportunity to resolve negotiability appeals before they are considered by the FLRA’s Members for a decision.

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]]> 2015 https://www.fmcs.gov/allison-beck-confirmed-as-director-of-the-federal-mediation-and-conciliation-service-2/ Mon, 02 Jul 2018 16:16:55 +0000 https://www.fmcs.gov/?p=14177 On July 29, 2015, the U.S. Senate votes to confirm FMCS Acting Director Allison Beck as the first woman Director of the Agency. She becomes the 18th Director of the FMCS since it was created by Congress in 1947. Ms. Beck was nominated for the position by President Obama on September 18, 2014.

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]]> On July 29, 2015, the U.S. Senate votes to confirm FMCS Acting Director Allison Beck as the first woman Director of the Agency. She becomes the 18th Director of the FMCS since it was created by Congress in 1947. Ms. Beck was nominated for the position by President Obama on September 18, 2014.

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]]> 2018 https://www.fmcs.gov/2018-2/ Mon, 02 Jul 2018 16:05:56 +0000 https://www.fmcs.gov/?p=21388 On June 06, 2018, President Trump appointed Richard Giacolone to serve as the Acting Director for FMCS, for which he was subsequently confirmed by Congress in a unanimous voice-vote as Director.  Mr. Giacolone began his mediation career at FMCS in the Chesapeake, Virginia field office in 1995. He was the former Director of the FMCS [...]

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]]> On June 06, 2018, President Trump appointed Richard Giacolone to serve as the Acting Director for FMCS, for which he was subsequently confirmed by Congress in a unanimous voice-vote as Director.  Mr. Giacolone began his mediation career at FMCS in the Chesapeake, Virginia field office in 1995. He was the former Director of the FMCS International/ADR Department and Special Assistant to the Director of FMCS. Prior to receiving his commission with FMCS, Mr. Giacolone was Labor Relations Advisor for the Department of the Navy and has an extensive background in labor relations representing management.

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]]> 1990 https://www.fmcs.gov/1900/ Thu, 18 Jun 2015 16:47:09 +0000 http://www.fmcs.gov/?p=12295 Bernard E. DeLury is appointed by President Bush as FMCS’s twelfth director. Congress enacts the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act and the Negotiated Rulemaking Act. Both are aimed at increasing the use of ADR to reduce the cost of litigation in government and improve government decision-making.

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]]> Bernard E. DeLury is appointed by President Bush as FMCS’s twelfth director.
Congress enacts the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act and the Negotiated Rulemaking Act. Both are aimed at increasing the use of ADR to reduce the cost of litigation in government and improve government decision-making.

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]]> 1993 https://www.fmcs.gov/1993/ Thu, 18 Jun 2015 16:46:54 +0000 http://www.fmcs.gov/?p=12293 John Calhoun Wells is appointed by President Clinton as FMCS’s thirteenth director and launches a broad transformation initiative focusing on expanded services, improved competencies and enhanced technology. President Clinton issues Executive Order 12871 which creates the National Partnership Council and directs each Executive agency to form a partnership with its employees and their representatives to [...]

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]]> John Calhoun Wells is appointed by President Clinton as FMCS’s thirteenth director and launches a broad transformation initiative focusing on expanded services, improved competencies and enhanced technology.
President Clinton issues Executive Order 12871 which creates the National Partnership Council and directs each Executive agency to form a partnership with its employees and their representatives to create a government that “works better and costs less.”

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]]> 1994 https://www.fmcs.gov/1994/ Thu, 18 Jun 2015 16:46:38 +0000 http://www.fmcs.gov/?p=12291 Director Wells appoints The Mediator Task Force on the Future of FMCS to prepare the Service for the next century. FMCS forms its own labor-management partnership council and enters into a Partnership Agreement a year later with its National Office employees’ union, the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R3-118.

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]]> Director Wells appoints The Mediator Task Force on the Future of FMCS to prepare the Service for the next century.
FMCS forms its own labor-management partnership council and enters into a Partnership Agreement a year later with its National Office employees’ union, the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local R3-118.

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