This past “hot labor summer” put labor unions back in the national spotlight. It’s proof that union activity is higher than it has been in years, but it also brought attention to the fact that union density remains woefully low.

Only about 10 percent of employees belong to a union, due in large part to corporate backed politicians who have systematically weakened legislation that protected labor unions and the right to organize.

Democrats in Congress have introduced the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act as a way to restore union density and worker power. If passed, it would be the most pro-labor piece of legislation the US has seen in decades. It aims to reset America’s labor law, protecting workers’ constitutional right to organize and bargain collectively.

The PRO Act is key to our country’s future. It is a landmark worker empowerment, civil rights and economic stimulus legislation, and it builds on the idea of building our society from the middle out and bottom up so everyone benefits.