Preventative Mediation

In the changing workplace and economic environment, the role of mediators continues to expand beyond the critical “firefighter” function, arriving at the last moment to assist the parties in resolving a contract dispute. Frequently, we become involved very early in negotiations or during the course of a contract to provide facilitation, consultation, and training for both sides in an effort to assist with more effective problem-solving, bargaining, communication, and relationship improvement.

FMCS mediators and staff are available to provide training in the public, private, and federal sectors on conflict resolution and labor-management relations topics. Customized training programs can be delivered in person or virtually, depending on participants’ needs. Training modules are tailored to group requirements based on a needs assessment. Core training topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

Affinity Bargaining
Interest-Based Problem Solving
Intentional Negotiations
Labor Management Committee Effectiveness
Negotiations Training

Locate a mediator in your area to discuss individual or group training needs.

The American workplace is the basic foundation of the U.S. economy, and the ability of American businesses to compete worldwide relates directly to workplace performance. The workplace labor-management relationship, therefore, has major economic implications because it affects product and service quality, productivity, and profits of firms and the jobs and employment security of workers. To assist management and labor in improving their relationship so they can learn to work together on issues of mutual interest, as a team instead of adversaries, FMCS offers a range of preventative mediation services, which are broadly defined as collaborative union-management processes.