Release date: 9/16/2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) Director Allison Beck announced today that she has requested that senior officials from Pantex/Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) and the Metal Trades Council in Amarillo, Texas cooperate with FMCS in scheduling a joint meeting with an FMCS mediator to explore a settlement of the strike that began August 28th at the Amarillo facility.
Noting that the strike began following worker rejection of a tentative agreement that was unanimously recommended for ratification by the workers’ bargaining committee, Director Beck stated:
“While FMCS has been monitoring the situation closely and mediation is normally a completely voluntary process, we cannot stand by and let this critical nuclear weapons facility continue to experience a work stoppage. In the absence of the parties scheduling a session on their own, it is our obligation to extend every effort to help the parties bridge their differences. Accordingly, I have asked FMCS Deputy Director Scot L Beckenbaugh, who has a well-earned reputation of successfully assisting parties in the resolution of complex disputes, to intervene on behalf of FMCS. It is our intention to convene a meeting under the auspices of FMCS at a time and a location that can be agreed upon by the parties.”
For a PDF version of the FMCS statement, click here.