Use the 5 stages of the conflict process outlined on page 450 of the textbook to explain how the manager of a factory should deal with 40 employees ready to strike over a two-year wage freeze and 15% rise in health insurance premiums. Assume that the employees don't want to strike but feel it’s a last resort since upper management will not sit down with them to discuss their concerns, and that you are perceived as being the bottleneck in communication.

The following are the 5 stages of the conflict process from page 450:

1. Potential opposition or incompatibility

a. Antecedent Conditions

b. Communication

c. Structure

d. Personal Variables 

2. Cognition and personalization

a. Perceived conflict

b. Felt conflict 

3. Intentions

a. Conflict-handling intentions

b. Competing o Collaborating

c. Compromising

d. Avoiding

e. Accommodating 

4. Behavior

a. Party’s behavior

b. Other’s behavior

5. Outcome

a. Increased group performance

b. Decreased group performance