WASHINGTON, DC – Following the announcement of a six-year agreement affecting more than 45,000 federal employees between the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) headquarters in Washington, DC on Sept. 27, FMCS Director Nominee Richard Giacolone praised the efforts of the parties and the mediator who assisted in the negotiations in the following statement:
“I am very happy to hear the parties were able to reach a fair and mutually beneficial agreement and proud that FMCS was able to assist the parties in reaching this contract. The dedication and commitment of everyone involved in these difficult negotiations were the reason a deal was achieved. This resolution is a testament to the power of good faith bargaining, where both sides are willing to come to the table, put aside their differences and get to work on a mutual agreement that addressed the interests of both sides. I commend the leadership of SSA and AFGE for their commitment to resolving these difficult issues in the spirit of constructive engagement. As always, FMCS is ready and willing to assist in negotiations like these both as a mediating third party or as a host for a neutral location.”