Resource Highlight: UA/MCAA’s Utilizing the Industrial Relations Council to Effectively Resolve Labor-Management Disputes

February 6, 2026

The UA and its signatory contractor partners are experiencing unprecedented labor and construction demand, helping them grow union market share. Maintaining this market share requires access to reliable, cost-effective resources for resolving jobsite and bargaining disputes. The UA/MCAA’s Utilizing the Industrial Relations Council to Effectively Resolve Labor-Management Disputes explains how the Industrial Relations Council can be used to effectively resolve labor-management disputes. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The white paper covers:

  • Introduction and History of the Industrial Relations Council
  • Rules, Regulations, and Policies of the Council
    • Negotiation Matters
    • Grievance/Arbitration Matters
  • Recent Trump Administration Actions Against the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)
  • Alternatives to the FMCS
  • Comparative Benefits of the Council
    • Expertise
    • Speed of Resolution
    • Cost
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