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RESTORATIVE 

GRIEVANCE MEDIATION:

A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO CONFLICT

Brenda D. Pryor, Commissioner Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service AGENDA

What are Restorative Practices?

Restorative Grievance Mediation – Why

Restorative Grievance Mediation – How

Restorative Grievance Mediation – In Action

Summary

WHAT ARE RESTORATIVE 

PRACTICES? “Restorative Practice” is an emerging social 

science that studies how to strengthen 

relationships between individuals as well as social 

connections within communities or organizations. 

These strategies help us to proactively build or 

rebuild relationships and manage conflict and 

tensions in ways that treat humans with dignity and 

respect. 

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WHAT ARE RESTORATIVE 

PRACTICES? Restorative Practices seek to create safe and supportive spaces where we learn to bravely 

engage in and learn from crucial, honest, sometimes 

difficult, conversations. 

Rooted in Indigenous traditions and thinking, 

Restorative Practice helps us recognize our 

inherent connections to one another and within a community.

RESTORATIVE GRIEVANCE MEDIATION – WHY

Restorative mediation injects restorative principles into the mediation process. In restorative mediation, the mediator will help the parties acknowledge wrongs, work to make things right for all sides & focus on a future without a reoccurrence of the dispute. Rebuilding trust is a paramount objective. Restorative mediation goes beyond just settling a case or resolving a dispute. A successful restorative mediation will reconcile the interests of the parties and will attempt to reconcile any underlying issues.

RESTORATIVE SEEMS A BIT LIKE...

FACILITATIVE

In facilitative mediation, the mediator structures a process to assist the parties in reaching a mutually agreeable resolution. The mediator asks questions; validates and normalizes parties’ points of view; searches for interests underneath

the positions taken by parties; and assists the parties in finding and analyzing options for

resolution. The mediator is in charge of the process, while the parties are in charge of the outcome. TRANSFORMATIVE One word used in transformative mediation is “empowerment”. Essentially when we are in

conflict, we feel disempowered. The mediator, through curiosity, through reflection, through

questioning, gets to explore with the parties what power they do have. A settlement may or may not be reached using the transformative model – however, an improved understanding of one’s inherent power and an improved

relationship is possible, in lieu of resolution. ...BUT THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES

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The Assessment Meeting

RESTORATIVE

STEP #1

RESTORATIVE

STEP #2

Pre-Work

RESTORATIVE STEP #3

Set the Space

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Facilitated Dialogue

RESTORATIVE 

STEP #4

RESTORATIVE 

STEP #5

Closing & 

After Work Activities

RESTORATIVE PRACTICES IN PRACTICE

School District & Teachers Union

Restorative Mediation in an elementary school setting – contract violation with a race & 

gender component. 

1. Held 3 assessment meetings

2. Assigned pre-work

3. Held 4 sessions with parties: • Joint session, with attorneys/union steward/district admin present • 3 additional sessions with only grievant & supervisor present • Additional sessions had pre & post work centered on topics that emerged during the sessions

• At the conclusion of the process, both grievant & supervisor agreed that they were 

better equipped to move forward in their working relationship with one another

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