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

NEWS RELEASE

Monday, March 26, 2018 Contact: John Arnold

For Immediate Release Director, Public Affairs

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

New FMCS Mediators Train to Resolve Labor-Management 

Conflicts, Build Better Relationships, and Create More 

Effective Organizations

WASHINGTON, DC– The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) hosted 14 newly 

commissioned mediators Mar. 19-23 in its Washington, DC headquarters as part of an annual training 

program designed to prepare new mediators to help FMCS labor and management customers better 

manage disruptive contract and workplace disputes.

The five-day program, led by senior FMCS staff, introduced a variety of professional topics including 

administrative procedures, mediator code of conduct and ethics, the history of FMCS, the National 

Labor Relations Act and alternative dispute resolution.

FMCS Deputy Director Scot Beckenbaugh welcomed the new mediators as “the newest members of the 

FMCS family,” he said. “Our primary goal throughout this week is to provide our mediators with the 

highest levels of training, allowing them to best support labor-management negotiations in the field and 

support the institution of collective bargaining.”

Mediators from FMCS provide a multitude of services to both the public and private sector to build 

labor-management partnerships, manage conflict, and avert or mitigate the damaging effects of 

workplace disputes. Many of the new mediators are already experienced labor-relations professionals, 

with expertise in resolving labor-management disputes, building labor-management relationships, and 

alternative dispute resolution for government agencies. FMCS equips them to help build better 

relationships through joint problem-solving and by advocating constructive responses to inevitable 

conflict. Organizations that reduce conflict become more efficient, creating more value for customers, 

shareholders and employees alike, and substantially benefit the national economy.

“This was very helpful training,” said Antionette Turner, one of the new mediators attending the course. 

“The best part was that I learned a lot of techniques from very experienced mediators that help shed 

light on how to be most effective and value-added to the parties I will be assisting in negotiations.” 

Mediators arrived in Washington from across the country, representing some of the more than 60 FMCS 

field offices and 10 regional offices. Although new to federal mediation, all the mediators are 

experienced in labor-management negotiations whether on the labor side or the management side.

“With my previous background as a union representative, I wanted to take my experience into another 

level of development,” said Tim Healy, a new mediator based out of Chicago. “I’ve used FMCS in the 

past and respect their mission statement. I’m grateful to be aboard.”
FMCS | 250 E St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20427 | 202-606-8100 | www.fmcs.gov

At the end of the training, the new mediators returned to their respective field locations to continue 

working alongside more seasoned FMCS mediators until they begin working their own cases. 

“I’m excited to develop this skillset and use my position as a neutral to help facilitate better relations 

among disputing parties to hopefully avoid strikes or lockouts and get everyone to a place they are 

equally comfortable with,” said Healy. 

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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. 

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.

WASHINGTON, DC (March 20, 2018) John Pinto, director of field operations for the Federal 

Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), administers the oath of office to a group of new 

federal mediators from around the country at the FMCS headquarters. The mediators were at 

the headquarters to attend a five-day training program to prepare them for their role in helping 

to resolve labor-management conflicts, build better relationships, and create more effective 

organizations. (FMCS Photo/Greg Raelson)
FMCS | 250 E St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20427 | 202-606-8100 | www.fmcs.gov

WASHINGTON, DC (March 20, 2018) Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) Deputy 

Director, Scot Beckenbaugh, welcomes a group of new federal mediators from around the 

country at the FMCS headquarters. The mediators were at the headquarters to attend a fiveday training program to prepare them for their role in helping to resolve labor-management 

conflicts, build better relationships, and create more effective organizations. (FMCS 

Photo/Heather Brown)