Javier Ramirez: A New Era in Conflict Resolution at the Scheinman Institute
When Javier Ramirez talks about conflict resolution, he speaks from a place of deep lived experience. A union organizer turned federal mediator and longtime leader in labor relations, Ramirez is charting a bold path forward by playing a key role in the National Conflict Resolution Service (NCRS)—a new initiative housed within Cornell’s Scheinman Institute that aims to fill growing needs in labor-management dispute resolution across the country and which is in collaboration with the American Arbitration Association (AAA).
A Service Born from Disruption
The NCRS was created in response to the fact that workplace conflicts appear to have intensified in recent years. In response, the NCRS aims to become a central, reliable resource for the labor-management community—offering mediation, training, and relationship-building services.
One important role of the NCRS will be the creation of a curated network of experienced professionals. “Our hope is to be a trusted resource for the labor-management community—whether they’re facing a challenge, exploring new approaches, or simply unsure of what they need,” Ramirez says. “I’m drawing on over three decades of experience, not just from the practical work in the field, but also from the behind-the-scenes lessons that shape how services are delivered effectively.”
“This new service and the hiring of Javier Ramirez provides the Scheinman Institute the capability to extend its reach and build upon its two decades of experience in dispute resolution,” states Harry Katz, Jack Sheinkman Professor and Director of the Scheinman Institute.
Ramirez envisions NCRS as a hub of partnerships: with fellow service providers, other universities, legal, LR and labor professionals, and practitioners from across the labor-management arena. “We want to build programs that meet actual needs. That means talking with—and listening to—the community.”
Deep Roots in the Labor Movement
Ramirez’s roots in the labor movement run deep. He began his career with the United Food and Commercial Workers, taking on roles as an organizer, director, and eventually local union president. “I had the opportunity to experience every role within a local union,” he recalls. “My understanding of labor issues comes from being directly in the work—not just learning about it, but living it day to day.”
That on-the-ground experience set the stage for his transition to federal service. Encouraged by federal mediators he worked with as a union leader, Ramirez joined the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service ( FMCS), where he eventually served as Deputy Director for Field Operations. Over the course of his federal career, he mediated disputes across industries, led training programs, developed innovative models such as affinity bargaining and was nominated by President Biden to lead the agency.
What defined his approach? “I was on the receiving end of mediation services before I delivered them. That perspective helped me really listen—listen to what people are saying and, often more importantly, what they’re not saying.”
A Moment That Defined His Purpose
Ramirez carries with him a personal philosophy that has guided his work for decades—rooted in an unexpected place: a high school seminary chapel.
“We were messing around before night prayers,” he recalls. “Then one of the priests stood up and said, ‘What’s the matter with all of you?’ I was stunned. Then he said something I’ll never forget: ‘Where does it end? Who’s going to be the person to say: it ends with me?’”
That moment crystallized for Ramirez the heart of conflict resolution. “When everything is spiraling, when the cycle feels endless—that’s what draws me to this work. Who’s going to say, It ends with me?”
For more information about the activities and offerings of the National Conflict Resolution Service, see https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/ncrs.