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

NEWS RELEASE 

Monday, March 12, 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 2018 

WASHINGTON, DC– The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) has opened its labormanagement grants application period for fiscal year 2018 and is encouraging grant applications focused 

on building a skilled workforce in every segment of the U.S. economy where employers have 

experienced difficulties in filling available good-paying jobs requiring specialized training and new skill 

sets. 

FMCS grants are intended to support and promote labor-management cooperation as well as joint, 

innovative solutions to disruptive workplace issues. 

FMCS grants totaling approximately $500,000 will be awarded in FY 2018 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. 

As has been the case in previous years, FMCS is encouraging applications to address the shortage of 

skilled workers for U.S. manufacturing jobs and in other vital economic sectors. Also of special interest 

are grant applications that look ahead to training for high-tech jobs that will emerge from an economy

where new technologies such as artificial intelligence, self-driving vehicles, and Internet-based 

transactions are commonplace. John Pinto, FMCS Deputy Director, Field Operations, said, “It is 

imperative that management and labor begin preparing for the new jobs and workplaces that new 

technologies will create in the near future. 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 fill our nation’s requirement for skilled workers tomorrow, next year and the next 

decade.” 

“We want to encourage labor organizations and employers to think about the jobs of tomorrow and to 

explore options with the FMCS grants program for developing joint training programs that can teach the

skills needed to fill these jobs,” said FMCS Deputy Director Scot L. Beckenbaugh. “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 through anticipating and teaching the 

skills that the workers of tomorrow will need,’ Beckenbaugh said. 

Starting today, grant applications may be submitted until May 31, 2018. Application information and 

instructions for completing the process can be obtained online at the Agency’s Web site—
FMCS – Page 2 

March 12 2018 

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

 

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. 

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.