When the Writers Guild of America went on strike in 2007-2008, the union and studios met with a third party who helped continue negotiations and made suggestions for resolving the issues. While the union and studios benefited from considering the suggestions, they were not bound to follow them. This form of negotiation is called

The Writers Guild of America and the film studios used a mediator when they started their negotiations. The mediator is an impartial third party that is present during the negotiations and tries to help both parties reach an agreement or settlement. The decisions taken by the mediator are not mutually binding so any party can accept or reject them. A mediator only helps to solve the problem, offers possible solutions, but shouldn't decide anything.

In order for the decisions taken by the third to be binding, the third party must be an arbitrator. In an arbitration process all parties involved must accept the decision of the arbitrator.