EMPLOYMENT LAW

Jeffrey Immelt’s appointment by President Obama to head his new White House economic council has some labor leaders concerned, given the perception that the boss of General Electric (NYSE: GE) is hostile to the union movement and is committed to outsourcing American jobs to foreign (cheaper) workers.

While it’s true that New York City’s unemployment rate declined to its lowest level in more than a year-and-a-half, it’s primarily due to the troubling reality that increasing numbers of people in Gotham have simply given up looking for work.

As the battle over pension reform in cash-starved cities and states intensified, the Mayor of New York City fired another salvo by threatening municipal unions with huge layoffs if they don’t cooperate with his sweeping proposals to overhaul the system.

A new Executive Order by US President Barack Obama has laid down regulatory measures on Tuesday to promote the country's economic growth and foster job creation while protecting the health and well-being of Americans throughout effective regulations.