For nearly eight decades, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) has been a valuable asset for workers and organizations as they navigate conflicts and disagreements. Ned Hanlon, President of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), has publicly criticized recent efforts by the current administration and DOGE to dismantle FMCS, questioning the rationale behind cutting a service that consumes only 0.0014% of the federal budget.
The FMCS has played a significant role beyond just mediating disputes. The agency provides “preventive mediation” through training programs that educate both managers and workers on collaborative problem-solving and conflict resolution skills. These efforts aim to enhance organizational efficiency and employee engagement.
FMCS’s impact on the performing arts sector is noteworthy, as described by AGMA. Prestigious organizations such as the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, and Martha Graham Dance Company have utilized FMCS’s services to maintain harmony between artists and management, ensuring continuity in operations and the preservation of jobs.
The dismantling of FMCS, Hanlon argues, would not only affect labor but also the businesses that depend on the FMCS to foster healthy workplace environments. He emphasized the disproportionate nature of the cuts against the minimal savings they would generate, suggesting that the decision goes beyond fiscal concerns.
With this move, Hanlon questions the decision’s real motivations and calls on stakeholders and the community to join in advocating for FMCS’s reinstatement. His message underscores AGMA’s solidarity with FMCS employees who have lost their jobs and reflects a broader demand for the agency’s restoration.
