NLRB --- The National Labor Relations Board is a USA government agency that administers union elections and arbitrates disputes between labor and management. Its judges are appointed by the Administration and tend therefore to be more or less helpful to workers depending on the politics of the administration that appointed them. In particular, Reagan and Bush made some anti-union appointments to the NLRB, which contribute to the difficulty for unions of achieving justice through the NLRB.

Negative Intimacy --- is the psychological state of enjoying the conflict. Someone who is negatively intimate will undermine settlement, and continue the conflict at almost any cost. [See also, Bad Faith.]

Negotiation -- A process in which disputants communicate their differences to one another and use this knowledge attempt to resolve them.

Negotiated Investments Strategy --- A mediation process which has been used on a limited basis to bring together federal, state, and local officials. and community members to resolve differences of opinion, disputes, and problems related to the allocation and use of public resources. Examples of applications include urban redevelopment, historic preservations, and planning for the allocation of public resources in the face of major financial cutbacks.

Negotiation Loopbacks --- This term refers to the return to negotiation after rights-based and power-based processes are used to clarify respective rights and relative levels of power. These tests of rights and power determine the parties best alternatives to a negotiated agreement (their "BATNA"s). Once these are known, the parties can "loopback" to negotiation to avoid a protracted and costly struggle, while usually obtaining the same result.

Negotiated Rule Making --- Also known as regulatory negotiation, this ADR method is an alternative to the traditional approach of U.S. government agencies to issue regulations after a lengthy notice and comment period. In reg-neg, as it is called, agency officials and affected private parties meet under the guidance of a neutral facilitator to engage in joint negotiation and drafting of the rule. The public is then asked to comment on the resulting, proposed rule. By encouraging participation by interested stakeholders, the process makes use of private parties' perspectives and expertise, and can help avoid subsequent litigation over the resulting rule.

Neutrality --- The act of remaining impartial to one side or another. Having no vested interest; either emotional or real, in the outcome of a situation. [See also Impartiality.]

Neutral -- Independent third party who acts as mediator, conciliator or chairman in various ADR procedures.

Neutral Fact Finding -- Similar to Expert Determination but restricted to the clarification of particular issues and non-binding in that the neutral does not normally make an award.

Newsletter (Mediation) --- Many organizations offer newsletters to promote the concepts of mediation to the public and to keep mediation professionals informed about legislative updates and world-wide news. [see also The Caucus - a mediation newsletter published 4 times yearly; http://www.mediationagency.com/pdf/thecaucusfall2005.pdf

New York State Dispute Resolution Association (NYSDRA) --- A private not-for-profit professional membership organization committed to the use and promotion of peaceful dispute resolution. Through leadership, education, promotion of professional standards and training, and development of innovative statewide programs, NYSDRA provides opportunities for people, communities, organizations and businesses to effectively respond to conflict. [see http://www.nysdra.org/  for more information on how to support this organization]

Non-Binding Arbitration --- The parties can decide not to abide by the arbitrator's decision. [See also, Binding Arbitration.]

Nonviolent direct action/nonviolent struggle --- Nonviolent direct action is action, usually undertaken by a group of people, to persuade someone else to change their behavior. Examples include strikes, boycotts, marches, and demonstrations

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