FMCS | 2100 K St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20427 | 202-606-8100 | www.fmcs.gov 

NEWS RELEASE 

Thursday, March 17, 2016 Contact: John Arnold, Director 

For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs 

Web site: www.fmcs.gov Phone: (202) 606-8100 

 

Labor and Management at St. Cloud VA Facility 

Issue Progress Report on Joint Training 

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Led by FMCS mediators, representatives from the American Federation of 

Government Employees (AFGE) and managers at the St. Cloud Veterans Hospital have jointly 

participated in intensive training exercises, classroom-style instruction and facilitated discussions with 

the joint goal of delivering quality care to veterans at the facility through collaborative and cooperative 

efforts and joint problem solving. 

Known as relationship-by-objective (RBO) training, the specialized instruction provided by FMCS is 

designed to reduce labor-management conflict and to improve cooperation through increased levels of 

trust, respect and understanding among the parties involved. RBO training is one of the services 

provided by FMCS to unionized workplaces nationwide in response to a joint request from labor and 

management. 

Labor and management representatives issued the following joint statement at the conclusion of the 

training: 

St. Cloud VA union and management officials have jointly developed several objectives to help 

rekindle a productive and cooperative working relationship. 

“Relationship by Objective was beneficial to the organization, and we’ve seen real and positive 

change, ” said Darlene Voltin, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service commissioner. 

During two focused sessions, the AFGE Local 390 and VA management team developed and 

agreed on a set of objectives focused on returning trust and respect to the labor-management 

relationship, said Voltin. 

The objectives developed include increased labor-management training, enhanced employee 

recognition, a focused effort to jointly assess and utilize employee feedback, improved 

communication throughout the organization, and an emphasis on pre-decisional collaboration. 

For each objective area, action plans have been established and will be pursued over the coming 

year. Periodic assessments are planned to ensure the agreed upon actions are achieved. FMCS 

will continue to advise and mentor the St. Cloud VA team. 
FMCS – Page 2 

March 17, 2016 

FMCS | 2100 K St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20427 | 202-606-8100 | www.fmcs.gov 

 

“Everyone at the St. Cloud VA is tremendously proud of the care and service provided to our 

Veterans, and a good working relationship is important to achieving our mission,” said AFGE 

Local 390 President Shirley Parker Blommel. 

“Ensuring a quality work environment for our employees is critical to taking care of Veterans,” 

said St. Cloud VA Director Barry Bahl. 

### 

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, created in 1947, is an independent U.S. government 

agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation. 

Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 10 district offices and more than 60 field offices, the agency 

provides mediation and conflict resolution services to industry, government agencies and communities.