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Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
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Mission and Values

 

The Agency helps build better relationships through joint problem-solving and constructive responses to inevitable conflict. In turn, this improves the ability of organizations to create value for customers, shareholders and employees alike, and substantially benefits the national economy. The Agency concentrates its efforts on assisting employers and employees in coping with the demands of a rapidly changing workplace.
 
Mission Statement:

FMCS’ mission statement reflects the statutory intent of the Agency. Our mission is to: 

  • Promote the development of sound and stable labor management relationships;
  • Prevent or minimize work stoppages by assisting labor and management to settle their disputes through mediation;
  • Advocate collective bargaining, mediation and voluntary arbitration as the preferred processes for settling issues between employers and representatives of employees;
  • Develop and advocate the art, science and practice of conflict resolution through the use of ADR;
  • Assist parties in conflict through the provision of conflict resolution services; and
  • Foster the establishment and maintenance of constructive joint processes to improve labor-management relationships, employment security and organizational effectiveness.

Values Statement:

Reflecting our mission statement, our commitment to a viable collective bargaining system, and the benefit of effective conflict resolution processes as a foundation for society’s well being and economic growth, this value statement embodies our core principles:

  • Relationships are critical to the success of an organization; they affect creativity, productivity and adaptability, as well as the quality of workplace life.
  • Poor relationships and communication represent a substantial barrier to achieving the kind of process innovation and high performance work organization demanded in the current business climate.
  • The Agency’s core mission of mediating and facilitating the resolution of workplace disputes and problems requires absolute neutrality, confidentiality, and acceptability to customers.
  • In order to have maximum impact and to meet statutory obligations, the Agency must focus primarily on organizations and matters having the greatest effect on interstate commerce and/or public health and safety. 
  • Collaborative, problem-solving approaches to the resolution of conflict should be cultivated and encouraged whenever possible.