#code of ethics

A Mediator Code of Ethics

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) has mediators working throughout the United States. A number of states have their own mediation agencies that provide mediation within that state. For years, these state mediation agencies and FMCS have worked cooperatively as members of the Association of Labor Mediation Agencies (ALMA). ALMA  holds annual conferences that provide opportunities for agencies and their mediators for training, sharing information, and ensuring cooperation among agencies.

At the 1963 annual ALMA conference, an agreement was reached to develop a code of conduct for mediators. William Simkin, the newly appointed Director of FMCS, was a driving force behind this imitative.

At the September 1964 annual conference, the liaison committee’s draft code was presented, discussed, and adopted. The code was put into immediate effect with this title: “Code of Professional Conduct for Labor Mediators.”

The Code described these five mediator responsibilities:

1. Responsibility of the Mediator Toward the Mediation Process.
   
2. Responsibility of the Mediator to the Parties.
   
3. Responsibility of the Mediator Toward Other Mediators.
   
4. Responsibility of the Mediator Toward Their Agency and other Professions.
   
5. Responsibility of the Mediator Toward the Public.
   

This post was submitted by Jerome T. Barrett. Dr. Barrett donated his collection pertaining to his career as a labor mediator, commissioner, and director of the Office of Technical Services of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS).