[DOCID:186873tx_xxx-65]
From the Government Manual Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Page 425-426]
FEDERAL MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION SERVICE
2100 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20427
Phone, 202-606-8100. Internet, www.fmcs.gov.
Director C. Richard Barnes
Deputy Director, Field Operations George W. Buckingham,
Jr., Acting
Deputy Director, National Office Operations Vella M. Traynham
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The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service assists labor and
management in resolving disputes in collective bargaining contract
negotiation through voluntary mediation and arbitration services;
provides training to unions and management in
[[Page 426]]
cooperative processes to improve long-term relationships under the Labor
Management Cooperation Act of 1978, including Federal sector partnership
training authorized by Executive Order 12871; provides alternative
dispute resolution services and training to Government agencies,
including the facilitation of regulatory negotiations under the
Administrative Dispute Resolution Act and the Negotiated Rulemaking Act
of 1996; and awards competitive grants to joint labor-management
committees to encourage innovative approaches to cooperative efforts.
The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) was created by the
Labor Management Relations Act, 1947 (29 U.S.C. 172). The Director is
appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Activities
The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service helps prevent disruptions
in the flow of interstate commerce caused by labor-management disputes
by providing mediators to assist disputing parties in the resolution of
their differences. Mediators have no law enforcement authority and rely
wholly on persuasive techniques.
The Service offers its facilities in labor-management disputes to
any industry affecting interstate commerce with employees represented by
a union, either upon its own motion or at the request of one or more of
the parties to the dispute, whenever in its judgment such dispute
threatens to cause a substantial interruption of commerce. The Labor
Management Relations Act requires that parties to a labor contract must
file a dispute notice if agreement is not reached 30 days in advance of
a contract termination or reopening date. The notice must be filed with
the Service and the appropriate State or local mediation agency. The
Service is required to avoid the mediation of disputes that would have
only a minor effect on interstate commerce if State or other
conciliation services are available to the parties.
For further information, contact one of the regional offices listed
below.
Mediation Efforts of FMCS mediators are directed toward the
establishment of sound and stable labor-management relations on a
continuing basis, thereby helping to reduce the incidence of work
stoppages. The mediator's basic function is to encourage and promote
better day-to-day relations between labor and management, so that issues
arising in negotiations may be faced as problems to be settled through
mutual effort rather than issues in dispute.
For further information, contact the Office of Public Affairs. Phone,
202-606-8080.
Arbitration The Service, on the joint request of employers and unions,
will also assist in the selection of arbitrators from a roster of
private citizens who are qualified as neutrals to adjudicate matters in
dispute.
For further information, contact the Office of Arbitration Services.
Phone, 202-606-5111.
Regional Offices--Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
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Region/Address Director Telephone
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Northeastern (16th Fl., 1 Kenneth C. Kowalski...... 973-645-2200
Newark Ctr., Newark, NJ
07102).
Southern (Suite 472, 401 W. Fred W. Reebals.......... 404-331-3995
Peachtree St. NW., Atlanta,
GA 30308).
Midwestern (Suite 120, 6161 John F. Buettner, Acting. 216-522-4800
Oak Tree Blvd.,
Independence, OH 44131).
Upper Midwestern (Suite 3950, Scot Beckenbaugh......... 612-370-3300
1300 Godward St.,
Minneapolis, MN 55413).
Western (Suite 1100, 2001 6th Douglas P. Hammond....... 206-553-5800
Ave., Seattle, WA 98121).
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For further information, contact the Public Affairs Office, Federal
Mediation and Conciliation Service, 2100 K Street NW., Washington, DC
20427. Phone, 202-606-8100. Internet, www.fmcs.gov.
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