FMCS | 250 E St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20427 | 202-606-8100 | www.fmcs.gov 

NEWS RELEASE 

Wednesday, March 1, 2017 Contact: Linda Gray-Broughton 

For Immediate Release FMCS Labor-Management Grants 

Web site: www.fmcs.gov Phone: (202) 606-8181 

 

FMCS Labor-Management Grants Program 

Accepts Applications for FY 2017 

WASHINGTON, DC– The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) has opened its labormanagement grants application period for fiscal year 2017 to encourage and promote labormanagement cooperation as well as joint, innovative solutions to disruptive workplace issues. 

Grants are awarded by the Agency to promote best practices in labor-management cooperation as a 

way of improving collective bargaining and proactively mitigating labor-management disputes. The grant

program supports the establishment and operation of joint labor-management committees at the 

company level, on a community or area-wide basis, within a particular industry, and for public sector 

employees. 

This year, FMCS is especially encouraging applications to address the shortage of skilled workers for U.S. 

manufacturing jobs and in other vital economic sectors. FMCS Acting Director John Pinto stated, “It is 

my belief that management and labor, working collaboratively, and with FMCS assistance, can develop 

plans to suit their individual circumstances and special needs, whatever they might be, to sufficiently 

restore a skilled workforce for our nation’s employers. It is well known that there is a shortage of 

qualified, skilled workers in our country to fill the available skilled manufacturing jobs. 

“All labor organizations and their employer partners can explore options with the FMCS Grants program 

for working together to develop joint training programs that provide the technical skills for new 

manufacturing jobs,” he continued. “Working with FMCS to build cooperative efforts, unions and 

employers can also benefit from improved labor-management relationships and increased competency 

in joint problem-solving to better meet the demands of our U.S. manufacturing sector for skilled 

workers,” he said. 

Starting today, grant applications may be submitted until May 31, 2017. Application information about 

how to apply can be obtained online at the Agency’s Web site—www.fmcs.gov. Interested parties are 

urged to contact the FMCS Grants Office at (202) 606-8181 with any questions they might have. 

The grants program, which began in 1981 under the authority of the Labor-Management Cooperation 

Act of 1978 (PL 95-524), has funded a broad range of projects including outreach, communications, 

strategic planning, minority recruitment and process development. 

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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. 
FMCS – Page 2 

March 1, 2017 

FMCS | 250 E St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20427 | 202-606-8100 | www.fmcs.gov 

 

Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 10 district offices and 67 field offices, the agency provides 

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