federal mediation and conciliation service
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. An independent federal agency that tries to prevent the interruption of commerce resulting from labor–management disputes by helping the parties settle the disputes through mediation and conciliation. • The Service can intervene on its own authority or at the request of a party to the dispute. It also helps employers and unions select qualified arbitrators. The Service was established by the Labor–Management Relations Act of 1947. 29 USCA § 172. — Abbr. FMCS. Cf. NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD.