The U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) announced today that it has received a request from representatives of the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) to provide mediation services in the PMA's continuing labor negotiations with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) for a collective bargaining agreement covering all west coast ports.

In accordance with its statutory responsibilities, the FMCS has been closely monitoring these negotiations for some time and has stood ready to provide mediation services at a moment's notice. In light of PMA's request, and consistent with the voluntary nature of the mediation process, FMCS mediators will promptly reach out to the parties to determine whether and when mediation assistance would be most valuable.

Due to the sensitivity of the negotiations, the FMCS will have no further comment on this request and will not comment regarding the status or substance of the negotiations.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, created in 1947, is an independent U.S. government agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 10 district offices and 67 field offices, the agency provides mediation and conflict resolution services to industry, government agencies and communities.