Originally Posted by Outsider

The NMB is a government entity and as such, has a mission statement, not a goal.
The pertinent part of the NMB’s mission statement is:

The prompt and orderly resolution of disputes arising out of the negotiation of new or revised collective bargaining agreements.

Of course their underlying goal is a successful dispute resolution, that goes without saying, not to mention the underlying pressure they are under to facilitate it based on an internal supposed 97% success rate of late.
Just as valid as facilitating a resolution however they are tasked with the obligation to define and recognize an impasse.
They have just as much responsibility to declare an impasse when it in fact exists, as they do to help find resolution.
They do not allow strikes, they do not allow work stoppages, and they do not allow lockouts. They do not allow anything.
They are supposed to declare an impasse when one exists within “some” reasonable time frame (see the word prompt in their mission) although lately (the last 30 yrs or so) they’ve been able to stretch it out to “denial of binding arbitration” as an excuse for not having “done their job”, as they see it.
If they see a release to self help as a failure, they have a personal problem. It’s all part of the process. This has become way to political, it was never intended to actually infringe on workers rights only to determine the impasse was not arbitrary.

Over many years I have had occasion to find myself at times knowing that it would be a mistake to meet with certain people alone. No matter the position of responsibility I am in, I would listen to my gut.