ST. PAUL, MN – Today, Governor Mark Dayton appointed Todd Doncavage to serve as Commissioner of the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS). Commissioner Doncavage has served as Acting Commissioner since the passing of Commissioner Joshua Tilsen in April 2017. Commissioner Doncavage has over two decades of experience in labor relations and conflict resolution, including five years at BMS as both a mediator and Deputy Commissioner. Doncavage has proven a unique ability to bring people together to resolve complex disputes, and to be an effective manager.

 

"Todd Doncavage has the experience and strength of character to lead the Bureau very well through this difficult time,” said Governor Dayton. “Through numerous dispute resolutions, Mr. Doncavage has earned the trust and respect of both labor and management. As Commissioner, Todd will provide positive and fair leadership, for the benefit of our economy and our state’s workers.”

 

Throughout his career, Todd Doncavage has earned a reputation for being smart, fair-minded, and trustworthy. Mr. Doncavage’s unique ability to bring people together to solve complex problems has prepared him well to serve as the state’s top mediator.

 

“I am humbled by this opportunity and look forward to continuing the stable and constructive labor-management relations the State of Minnesota expects, deserves, and enjoys,” said Commissioner Doncavage.

 

  

 

For more than twenty years, Todd Doncavage’s career has been devoted to effective management, and to the constructive resolution of complex labor disputes. Commissioner Doncavage has served at BMS since 2012, when he began as a mediator – traveling the state to resolve disputes between management and labor. In 2014, Mr. Doncavage was appointed to the Bureau’s senior leadership team, serving as Deputy Commissioner. In that role, Doncavage supported the overall management of the Bureau, including the management of its finances, performance evaluation, and its legislative and policy work.

 

Prior to his service at BMS, Mr. Doncavage served for nearly a decade as a Business Agent for the International Union of Operating Engineers. In that role, Doncavage was responsible for counseling employees in 23 bargaining units, managing complex personnel issues, and negotiating both private and public sector contracts. During his time with the International Union of Operating Engineers, Doncavage also actively worked to identify workplace concerns, navigate complex arbitrations, and prevent workplace disputes before they happened. 

 

Commissioner Doncavage earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Minnesota in 1993. Mr. Doncavage has also earned numerous certificates in civil mediation, labor studies, and public works. In 2007, he earned the Earl Willford Labor Management Cooperation and Partnership Award from the Twin City Area Labor Management Council for his outstanding contributions in promoting and supporting cooperative labor-management relations in the workplace.

 

The Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS) works to promote stable and constructive labor-management relations. It works collaboratively with parties to resolve contract and grievance disputes quickly and fairly, and also provides arbitration and labor-management conflict resolution training.

 

BMS was first created in 1939, when the Minnesota Legislature enacted the Minnesota Labor Relations Act to peacefully settle disputes resulting from the growing size and strength of Minnesota's labor movement. The Act recognized that a sound economy is aided by a constructive labor-management environment. To administer the Act, the Legislature created the Division of Conciliation (now the Bureau of Mediation Services). The Division was assigned four functions: conciliation/mediation, arbitration, bargaining unit determinations, and bargaining unit certification elections.

 

Growth in the state's economy and union representation, increased complexity of contract negotiations, and growing acceptance of mediation caused the Legislature to pass additional laws affecting labor-management relations. In 1969 the Division was renamed the Bureau of Mediation Services and established as a separate state agency. Enactment of the Public Employment Labor Relations Act of 1971 (PELRA) and its subsequent amendments have substantially expanded the functions of the BMS.

 

To learn more about Minnesota’s Bureau of Mediation Services, click here.