Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), independent U.S. government agency whose function is to protect the public interest by mediating those labor-management disputes that affect interstate commerce. Either management or union are required by law to notify the FMCS if they have not been able to successfully renew a labor contract 30 days before it is due to expire or to be changed. Although it does not serve as a law enforcement agency, the FMCS can intervene in a labor-management dispute without being requested, depending upon persuasion to settle disputes. It has 76 regional offices in principal U.S. industrial areas.