As a Management Expert, how would you deal with the following workplace conflicts:

1) Rumors and gossips are very high, and you have found that your work culture is actually supporting this.

2) Your local community employees decided to strike. They claim that the high salaries and senior positions are exclusive for those from other areas (not the local community), which they found discriminatory. While you know that the reason behind hiring externals is that your industry is very skill-demanding and specific, which is hard to be found in your local community.