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

NEWS RELEASE

Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2020 Contact: Greg Raelson

For Immediate Release Office of Congressional & Public Affairs

Website: www.fmcs.gov Phone: (202) 606-8081

FMCS Offers Virtual Online Mediation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), in furtherance of its 

statutory mandate and the White House memorandum dated March 15, 2020 requiring agencies to 

offer maximum telework flexibilities as they carry on their missions during this National Emergency, 

hereby announces the availability of online dispute resolution services. 

FMCS is in the process of augmenting our current capacity to conduct online collective bargaining and 

employment mediation using cutting edge video teleconferencing technology that allows for fully 

private virtual meeting rooms for parties, with seamless transitions to virtual joint meeting rooms. 

Both the video and audio features move with the parties as they engage in both joint sessions and 

private caucuses. The service also allows for online sharing of documents and can be supplemented as 

needed with additional technology for idea generation and evaluation as part of comprehensive joint 

problem solving. 

For more information please contact your local FMCS District Executive Manager, listed below and here: 

https://www.fmcs.gov/aboutus/locations/offices/ If you are unsure which District is appropriate for 

your location, a map is included for your reference.

North East District, Woodbridge, NJ

Peter Donatello, pdonatello@fmcs.gov

732-726-3120

Mid-Atlantic District, Philadelphia, PA

Stephen Millen, smillen@fmcs.gov

215-717-7501

Headquarters District, Washington, DC

Javier Ramirez, jramirez@fmcs.gov

202-606-3722

Great Lakes District, Independence, OH

Michael Franczak, mfranczak@fmcs.gov

216-520-4809

South East District, Nashville, TN

Peter Cheng, pcheng@fmcs.gov

615-223-6917

North Central District, Minneapolis, MN

Lane Harstad, Lharstad@fmcs.gov

612-331-6193

South Central District, Kansas City, MO

Barbara Rumph, brumph@fmcs.gov

314-205-2007

North West District, Seattle, WA

Jennifer Disotell, jdosotell@fmcs.gov

206-553-4821

South West District, Glendale, CA

Linda Gonzalez, Lgonzalez@fmcs.gov

818-409-1324
FMCS | 250 E Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20427 | 202-606-8100 | www.fmcs.gov

NEWS RELEASE

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The U.S. Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service (FMCS) is the nation’s premier public agency for 

dispute resolution and conflict management. FMCS was created by Congress as a neutral and 

independent government agency upon enactment of the Labor-Management Relations Act of 1947 (TaftHartley Act) and mandated to resolve industrial conflict and promote labor-management peace and 

cooperation, minimizing the impact of these disputes on the free flow of commerce. With headquarters 

in Washington, D.C. and offices across the country, the agency has a proud track record of decades of 

effective dispute resolution and conflict management services for employers and unions across industries 

and work activities in the private, public, and federal sectors. FMCS is also recognized for its success 

facilitating negotiated rulemaking processes and for its robust employment mediation program in the 

federal sector as well as its global program, partnering with more than 60 countries to provide 

international consulting and training. For more on FMCS or to request services, visit www.fmcs.gov