Such a request signifies that at least one party, and often both, believes that negotiation progress on important issues in dispute is not possible. PERB reviews the state of the negotiations including such questions as the number and duration of bargaining sessions, the number of resolved and unresolved issues, and particularly the nature of the unresolved issues. If it appears that a good faith effort at settlement has been made, but has been unsuccessful, PERB will most usually conclude that the assistance of a neutral, third party mediator may be helpful in moving the parties closer to settlement. The State Mediation Service is a public agency which employs experienced neutral mediators to assist in the resolution of various types of labor disputes, including contract negotiation disputes. They work with both parties in an effort to find a voluntary resolution of their problems.
Mediators work using trained methods of keen observation, suggestion and recommendation.
It has led to mediation and, when necessary, the fourth final stage of the bargaining process, fact-finding. The parties may agree to use a mediator of their own choosing such as a distinguished private sector labor relations professional, a politician, or even a member of the clergy. During the recent graduate student dispute in UC, for instance, several politicians helped the parties reach resolution. In the recent janitor strike in Los Angeles, a clergyman assisted in the settlement. In reality, mediation is a continuation of the bargaining process in a slightly different format now controlled by the mediator.