Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

What Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service does

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) is an independent U.S. federal agency established by the Labor-Management Relations Act of 1947 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. Its core function is to provide neutral third-party mediation, facilitation, grievance resolution, and arbitration panel services to prevent, minimize, and resolve labor-management disputes and work stoppages across the U.S. economy. The agency serves private sector employers and labor unions, federal government agencies, and state/municipal public sector entities across all 50 states, delivering services through a network of regional field offices, virtual teleconference, traveling mediators, and self-service online portals. Since 2018, FMCS reports assisting over 6.9 million American workers and mediating thousands of cases annually across healthcare, transportation, utilities, manufacturing, retail, and defense industries.

FMCS's service portfolio is organized around five areas: collective bargaining mediation, grievance mediation, collaborative bargaining processes, preventative mediation, and arbitration. Its underlying technology is process-based rather than algorithmic — proprietary structured methodologies including the Affinity Method of Collaborative Bargaining (cited at >98% success rate), Interest-Based Bargaining, and Intentional Negotiations form the core intellectual property. The agency operates two web-based self-service portals: the F-7 Notice filing portal (mandated under the 1947 Act, 60 days before CBA expiration) and the Online Arbitration Panel Request System (arbitration.fmcs.gov), which serves a roster of approximately 1,000 independent arbitrators. No proprietary AI/ML systems, APIs, or algorithm-based products are described.

FMCS's business model is government appropriations-funded rather than commercial. Collective bargaining mediation, grievance mediation, and preventative mediation services are provided free to all parties, funded entirely by congressional appropriations. Arbitration services generate modest transaction-based fee revenue ($100 for online panel requests of up to 7 arbitrators, $175 for manual panel requests of up to 13 arbitrators, plus annual arbitrator roster listing fees of $200–$300), but these are not material to agency finances. Demand generation is primarily statutory (F-7 notice requirement) and referral-driven (via NLRB, FLRA, state agencies, and labor relations counsel).

Name

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

Legal name

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

Website

https://fmcs.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) is an independent U.S. federal agency, chartered in 1947, that provides free neutral mediation, facilitation, grievance resolution, and arbitration panel services to prevent and resolve labor-management disputes among private employers, unions, and government entities across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Appropriations: FMCS is a small, independent federal agency funded through annual appropriations from Congress. Collective bargaining mediation, grievance mediation, and preventative mediation services are provided at no charge to parties, funded entirely by appropriated dollars.
2. Arbitration Panel and Roster Fees: FMCS generates modest fee revenue from arbitration services: $100 for online panel requests (up to 7 arbitrators), $175 for manual panel requests (up to 13 arbitrators), $175 for manual arbitrator list requests, $100 for direct manual appointments, and annual arbitrator roster listing fees ($200/$300 for first address plus $75/$125 per additional address). These fees are set as of October 1, 2023.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FMCS is an independent U.S. federal agency that provides neutral third-party mediation, facilitation, and arbitration services to resolve labor-management disputes. Core offerings include free collective bargaining mediation, grievance mediation, preventative mediation services, and a roster of approximately 1,000 arbitrators accessed through an online panel request system. The agency also delivers alternative dispute resolution services, training, and consultation to federal government agencies.

Product overview

FMCS is a small, independent federal agency providing neutral, comprehensive conflict resolution services in five major areas: collective bargaining mediation, grievance mediation, collaborative bargaining models, labor-management effectiveness training, and arbitration. The core offering centers on a roster of approximately 1,000 independent arbitrators and trained federal mediators who assist labor and management parties. Collective Bargaining Mediation and Grievance Mediation form the dispute resolution foundation, while Preventative Mediation Services including Interest-Based Bargaining, Intentional Negotiations, and Affinity Bargaining offer proactive approaches. The Arbitration Services provide panel requests through an online system. FMCS also offers digital self-service through its F-7 Notice Filing System and Online Arbitration Panel Request System, along with educational resources like the FMCS 101 Video Series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Collective Bargaining Mediation
• Grievance Mediation
• Affinity Method of Collaborative Bargaining
• Interest-Based Bargaining (IBB) Program
• Intentional Negotiations
• Preventative Mediation Services
• Facilitation
• Labor-Management Committee Effectiveness
• Arbitration Services
• Collaborative Bargaining Processes
• Conferences and Workshops

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6.9 million American workers helped since 2018 through March 2026
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Boeing and IAM UnioncoreOthers · 17 October 2025FMCS resumed mediation services to address the ongoing Boeing strike in St. Louis. FMCS mediators are working with both parties to reach a settlement and end the work stoppage at Boeing's facility.
• Dairy Farmers of America (St. Albans City Plant)minorOthers · 10 October 2025Unionized workers at the DFA plant in St. Albans City, Vermont, went on strike over labor conditions but reached a new contract agreement after nearly two weeks. The union stated the strike could have been avoided if federal mediators had not been fired earlier in the year.
• Association of Labor Relations Agencies (ALRA)coreOthersFMCS is a member of the Association of Labor Relations Agencies (ALRA), a North American association of impartial government agencies responsible for administering labor-management relations laws or services. ALRA promotes cooperation among member agencies, high professional standards, public interest in labor relations, improved employer-employee relationships, peaceful resolution of labor disputes, and exchange of information.
• U.S. Department of LaborcoreOthersFMCS collaborates with the Department of Labor on labor-management training and workforce resources. The Department of Labor's worker.gov and employer.gov resources are referenced on FMCS's Labor-Management Forum page as useful links for parties.
• National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)coreOthersFMCS maintains a referral relationship with the NLRB, which directs parties to FMCS mediation services. NLRB is referenced on FMCS's website as a key resource for labor relations guidance. FMCS also has a hotline arrangement with the NLRB Inspector General for reporting fraud, waste, and abuse.
• Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA)coreOthersFLRA is referenced on FMCS's Labor-Management Forum page as a key resource for federal sector labor relations, alongside the Department of Labor and NLRB.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Labor Relations Board: Independent federal agency enforcing U.S. labor law and protecting private-sector workers' rights to organize. Comparable to FMCS as a core federal labor institution, and the primary referral source routing parties to FMCS mediation services.
• American Arbitration Association: Largest private U.S. provider of alternative dispute resolution services, including labor arbitration panels and mediation. Comparable to FMCS as a national arbitration panel provider competing for non-mandatory labor dispute work.
• JAMS: Major private U.S. provider of mediation, arbitration, and ADR services across commercial and labor matters. Comparable to FMCS as a competing neutral-third-party mediation and arbitration provider in the U.S. labor and employment market.

Others

• Association of Labor Relations Agencies: North American association of impartial government agencies that administer labor-management relations laws and services. Comparable to FMCS as the industry body of which FMCS is a member, and a coordination channel for cross-jurisdictional labor dispute referrals.

Direct peers

• National Mediation Board: Independent U.S. federal agency that mediates labor disputes in the railroad and airline industries under the Railway Labor Act. Directly comparable to FMCS as a federal neutral mediator with a statutory mandate, overlapping mediation methodologies, and a similarly small federal footprint.
• Federal Labor Relations Authority: Independent federal agency that administers labor-management relations law for the federal workforce. Directly comparable to FMCS as a federal labor relations institution; FLRA handles adjudicatory functions while FMCS handles mediation, and the two are frequently cross-referenced in federal sector cases.

Regional players

• California Public Employment Relations Board: California state agency administering collective bargaining laws for state and local public employees. Comparable to FMCS as a government labor-relations agency delivering mediation and dispute resolution, but operating at the state level rather than federal.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FMCS_USA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FMCSInfo
• Facebookfacebook.com/fmcs.usa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/federal-mediation-and-conciliation-service

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service