Re: “Boeing workers reject their latest contract offer, extending strike at three Midwest plants” (Sept. 12, Business):
I’ve been reading about the Boeing strike with dismay. An obvious option has not been used this time: sending in a neutral, confidential, knowledgeable mediator to bring the two sides together. A qualified mediator can help close the bargaining gap, reestablish institutional and relationship trust, and make use of expert negotiations techniques that can be creative regarding options.
In fact, until this year, that was often the way these contentious issues got resolved — since 1947, with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Established just after World War II, it was an incredible, cost-effective federal agency with an amazingly successful record.
However, the Department of Government Efficiency, under President Donald Trump, eradicated it. No reason, no explanation. Simply for political expediency, costing us plenty as a nation. Costs in productivity, efficiency, trust, effectiveness and the ability to communicate with one another. Until this year, the benefit to the public was huge for a mere pittance in cost.
FMCS had been incredibly successful in every industry, in every sector, in contentious bargaining from the smallest dispute to the largest conflicts in our country’s history over he past 78 years. With the loss of FMCS, we all lost a lot.
Gary Hattal, Freeland, former deputy director and acting director, FMCS
