More major league sports mediation-- NHL?

This week, ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun reached out to prominent U.S. federal mediator George Cohen to seek his opinion on the state of the NHL lockout, due to his participation in ending both the NBA and NFL lockouts last year. About a quarter of the NHL hockey season has already been cancelled due to the lockout. As expected, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) director declined the interview request. However, LeBrun says Cohen mentioned he'd been in contact with both parties in the NHL-NHLPA negotiations. Fans have inquired whether a mediator could help dislodge the stalemate over NHL labor talks. However, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly only commented the parties had been in touch with the FMCS and didn't think that the introduction of a mediator into the process would necessarily further the process. As for the players' union, the NHLPA reportedly hasn't been in contact with FMCS since July. So far, according to players, the union seems willing to stick together, believing that the league is trying to wait and see if players crack. Others want NHLPA leadership back negotiating with the NHL to explore flexibility from the league on key bargaining points. See: http://bitly.com/PJU2BG and http://bitly.com/TxmXYD

Mediation may keep Joint Strike Fighter production going

Lockheed Martin, biggest supplier the Pentagon, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) agreed to meet federal mediators to settle a strike that began over eight weeks ago over pension and health benefits. Apparently, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), an independent federal agency, initiated the move after getting in touch with both sides. Lockheed, under pressure from the Pentagon to reduce its labor and pension costs, hired scabs to maintain production at the plant where it builds F-35 fighter jets. The parties are reportedly hopeful the FMCS can provide the independent perspective that often produces the framework for a resolution and are said to welcome the opportunity to find a resolution to the strike. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) last week dismissed three unfair labor practice charges filed by the union against Lockheed. The company appreciated the decision, saying its negotiators had bargained in good faith with the union. See story here - http://reut.rs/NQ0RPa

Time Out for NFL Refs

NFL Referees and the National Football League are headed to federal mediation in negotiations over a new labor agreement. Reports are that the NFL has already instructed its scouts to begin preparing for the possibility that replacement officials could be used during the upcoming season if a deal is not struck. Last year, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (an independent agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation) mediated negotiations between the league and the players’ union before the lockout. The league and the players did not return to that FMCS mediation, though negotiations resumed when litigation ensued, ultimately producing a 10-year labor agreement completed last summer. A federal court-appointed mediator oversaw settlement talks after players dissolved their union and filed an antitrust case against owners. In this matter, the refs and league are apparently intent on reaching a deal without litigation. See article - http://wapo.st/KXU6G7 and FMCS announcement http://www.fmcs.gov/internet/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=39&itemID=23700