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

NEWS RELEASE

Thursday, April 11, 2019 Contact: Greg Raelson

For Immediate Release Public Affairs Specialist

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

FMCS and EEOC Sign Memorandum of Agreement

Shares Commitment To Actively Resolve Federal Workplace Disputes

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Federal 

Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) have officially committed to work together to resolve federal 

workplace disputes by utilizing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as a means of efficiently reducing 

the backlog of federal sector charges, the EEOC and FMCS announced today. 

In a ceremony at the EEOC, the EEOC Acting Chair Victoria A. Lipnic and FMCS Director Nominee Richard 

Giacolone signed a national memorandum of agreement, creating a voluntary working relationship 

between the two agencies. Under its terms, FMCS will work with the EEOC to identify parties involved in 

federal sector complaints and provide the opportunity to resolve pending conflicts prior to a decision by 

an Administrative Judge (AJ).

The agreement establishes a voluntary contractual working relationship where the EEOC will identify 

federal sector cases in its inventory suitable for mediation by FMCS. The parties to these cases will then 

work with the EEOC staff to get their cases before a FMCS mediator who will provide mediation services 

to the parties. The EEOC retains responsibility for the closure or continued processing of all cases. FMCS 

has tremendous talent and experience assisting parties in the resolution of disputes. Moreover, FMCS 

mediators are located across the country, which allow them the flexibility to conduct mediations 

wherever there is a need.

Created in 1947, FMCS is a government agency that helps build better relationships through joint 

problem-solving and constructive responses to inevitable conflict. In turn, this improves the ability of 

organizations to create value for customers, shareholders and employees alike and substantially 

benefits the national economy. FMCS concentrates its efforts on assisting employers and employees in 

coping with the demands of a rapidly changing workplace.

“Charges of discrimination in our federal workplaces are no less important than the private sector” said 

EEOC Acting Chair Lipnic. “During the past two years we increased hiring for AJ’s and implemented 

strategies to increase efficiency in the hearings program. This resulted in a 30 percent increase in 

resolutions and for the first time, a decrease in the pending inventory of hearings. However, we still 

need to do more. Achieving and maintaining a balanced and manageable inventory is crucial to 
FMCS | 2100 K St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20427 | 202-606-8100 | www.fmcs.gov

providing quality customer service to our primary stakeholder: the American workforce. This agreement 

with FMCS allows us to do just that.”

Richard Giacolone said, “It is our pleasure to partner with the EEOC and provide our federal mediators 

to assist in resolving federal workplace disputes before the involvement of an AJ. Any time opposing 

parties can come together to make a mutually-agreeable decision is a positive development. With our 

expert mediators at the ready, we are happy to assist the EEOC in providing the most efficient and 

effective service to workers across the federal sector.”

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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

The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment 

discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC 

news by subscribing to email updates.

WASHINGTON, DC (April 11, 2019) Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) Director Nominee Richard 

Giacolone (left) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Acting Chair Victoria A. Lipnic sign a 

Memorandum of Agreement pledging the agencies to work together to resolve federal workplace disputes. (FMCS 

Photo/Greg Raelson)
FMCS | 2100 K St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20427 | 202-606-8100 | www.fmcs.gov

WASHINGTON, DC (April 11, 2019) Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) Director Nominee Richard 

Giacolone (left) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Acting Chair Victoria A. Lipnic shake hands 

following their signing of a Memorandum of Agreement pledging the agencies to work together to resolve federal 

workplace disputes. (FMCS Photo/Greg Raelson)

WASHINGTON, DC (April 11, 2019) Representatives from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)

and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) stand behind FMCS Director Nominee Richard Giacolone 

(front left) and EEOC Acting Chair Victoria A. Lipnic following their signing of a Memorandum of Agreement 

pledging the agencies to work together to resolve federal workplace disputes. (FMCS Photo/Greg Raelson)