For nearly 80 years, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) has served as a critical resource for working people and the organizations they sustain. As neutral mediators, FMCS professionals have, time and again, unlocked impasses, fostering productive dialogue and avoiding costly disruptions such as strikes or lockouts.
In addition to dispute mediation, the agency provides “preventive mediation” in the form of training programs. These programs teach managers and workers how to engage in collaborative problem-solving and conflict resolution, ultimately improving organizational efficiency and employee engagement. Joint Labor-Management Committees are now essential components in many of AGMA’s collective bargaining agreements, equipping both sides with the tools we need to create successful and sustainable organizations.
AGMA has witnessed firsthand how the mediation and training provided by FMCS have benefited the performing arts industry for decades. Across many AGMA companies nationwide—including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, and Martha Graham Dance Company—FMCS has played a vital role in bridging divides between artists and management. Through their support, these organizations have prevented disruptions, preserved jobs, and ensured smooth operations.
Put simply, FMCS has provided stability in an often unstable industry.
Despite its obvious benefits, the current administration and DOGE have now moved to dismantle the FMCS. Why? To save a mere 0.0014% of the federal budget? The cost of losing such an effective and stabilizing institution far outweighs any minimal savings. So we all know it’s not about that.
The loss of FMCS is not just a blow to labor but to businesses of every size that have relied on the agency’s expertise to build better workplaces and stronger communities.
We should all be asking why such a vital resource is being sacrificed. AGMA stands with the fired workers at FMCS and joins the chorus of voices demanding its restoration.
-Ned Hanlon, AGMA President