(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is directing the Connecticut Department of Labor’s State Board of Mediation and Arbitration to assist Connecticut employers and labor unions that have been impacted by an executive order issued by President Donald Trump eliminating nearly all services provided by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS).
FMCS is the federal agency responsible for providing mediation, arbitration, and conflict resolution services to employers and unions with the goal of preventing, minimizing, and resolving work stoppages and labor disputes. Since the executive order was enacted, staffing at the federal agency has been reduced from more than 200 employees to 12. Even though the cuts have since been reversed through court order, the majority of the federal agency’s employees have not returned. Today, there is only one FMCS mediator assigned to provide services in all of Connecticut and Rhode Island and parts of Massachusetts and New York, representing a 90% reduction in staffing support for the region.
With the exception of employers involved in critical industries like health care, FMCS is no longer mediating any individual grievances, and is currently only providing strike prevention and negotiation services to employers with a minimum of 250 employees or those involved in a class action.
“Providing services that help employers and labor quickly and efficiently resolve disputes is the most effective way to keep the economy moving and keep people in their jobs, and these federal cuts are only making it harder for employers and workers to find solutions to problems,” Governor Lamont said. “We should not be taking steps backward that make it more difficult for businesses and workers to resolve conflicts. Until the problems caused by these federal cuts are resolved, I’m directing the Connecticut Department of Labor to step in and provide support to the extent they can for all impacted parties.”
The Connecticut State Board of Mediation and Arbitration has the ability to provide certain services that are similar to FMCS, including the handling of contract disputes, collective bargaining, and arbitration. Most recently, this state entity has primarily been providing services to cases that involve municipal employers, however it also has jurisdiction to perform mediation work and grievance arbitration for private employers. This state board has three mediators, six permanent members, and more than 30 alternates.
“Keeping people in jobs and off the picket line is the best option for a strong and stable economy,” Connecticut Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo said. “While the federal agency is essentially sidelined, we want to remind businesses and labor that the Connecticut State Board of Mediation and Arbitration provides an alternate option for grievance resolution.”
“The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is a small but critical agency that directly benefits Connecticut workers, employers, and our economy,” Connecticut AFL-CIO President Ed Hawthorne said. “Last year’s attempt to dismantle the FMCS was a disastrous and ill-conceived effort that has caused long-term damage even after being overturned by a federal judge. We appreciate Governor Lamont and Commissioner Bartolomeo for stepping up to ensure Connecticut has the capacity to provide necessary mediation services, protect collective bargaining, and help reach fair resolutions that strengthen our economy.”
Employers seeking more information about the services offered by the Connecticut State Board of Mediation and Arbitration should visit its website at portal.ct.gov/dol/divisions/mediation-and-arbitration.