The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) strongly condemns the Trump Administration’s unprecedented decision to place Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) mediators on leave as of 5 p.m. on March 26. This overreach will have negative consequences for all union workers, including MNA nurses and healthcare professionals, and the communities we serve.
FMCS mediators play a critical role in helping unions and employers reach fair agreements. In the healthcare sector in particular, their involvement has been essential in preventing prolonged disputes, avoiding or ending strikes, and ensuring that nurses and healthcare professionals can continue providing high-quality care without disruption. MNA members have long benefited from FMCS mediators’ expertise. Our nurses and healthcare professionals have settled multiple strong contracts and avoided strikes just in the past year with the help of FMCS mediators. These agreements protect patient safety, improve working conditions, and advance our professional practice.
Removing FMCS mediators from the negotiation process threatens the stability of labor relations and undermines workers’ rights. This is also an unwarranted attack on federal workers whose mission is to help sustain the American economy by preventing, minimizing, and resolving work stoppages and labor disputes. FMCS mediators also contribute to government efficiency by providing training and other dispute resolution services to federal agencies. On a human level, abruptly placing mediators on leave and immediately cutting off their phone and computer access is an unfair and cruel act. We call on the Trump administration to immediately reinstate the mediators and respect their importance in maintaining labor peace and helping ensure fair contracts for all union workers.
