If an employer and union are not able to reach an agreement through negotiations, then the parties may declare an impasse, which means that they cannot resolve their disputes through further bargaining. If the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) certifies the impasse, the parties will be assigned a state mediator. If mediation is unsuccessful, the parties may proceed to a fact-finding hearing. The fact-finding panel will issue a report with recommendations, which the parties must consider in good faith to determine whether it can form the basis for a settlement. If, after fact-finding, an agreement still has not been reached, the parties can exercise their rights under the law. Employers can implement proposals made in bargaining, and the union can go out on strike.