During his presidential campaign, Obama said he would renegotiate NAFTA in addition to obtaining more protections for U.S. workers, an issue that has long been on the agenda of American labor unions.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: A Growing interdependence

The union's general secretary Brendan Barber said employers should discuss the issue with workers "to avoid any tensions".

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The deal GE (nyse: GE - news - people ) reached with the International Union of Electronic Workers-Communication Workers of America (IUE-CWA) and the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) covers wages and pensions--but what to do about rapidly rising health costs was always the thorniest issue, as it is an issue with workers, unionized and nonunionized, across the economy.

FORBES: As GE Reaches Deal, Strikes Are Disappearing