Union supporters gather in Madison, urge Congress to pass Pro Act

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- With all the focus on coronavirus and social and racial justice, a bill backed by organized labor is not getting a lot of national attention.

But in Madison Monday, April 26, a group of union supporters spoke strongly in favor of what's being called the Pro Act.

"It's time that we remember that this state and this nation was built on the backs of labor," said State Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee). 

Rep. Sinicki was one of the speakers at a press conference Monday urging Congress to pass the bill.

Pro Act stands for "Protect the Rights to Organize." 

It's already passed the House and it's headed for the Senate.

Supporters say the bill bolsters workers' collective bargaining rights.

And in Wisconsin, this group says Pro Act will reverse what they call the "anti-worker actions" of former governor Scott Walker.

"Workers have to go through hell in order to try and organize, and that's why there is so little successful organizing, especially against big, powerful employers like Walmart and Amazon," said Robert Kraig, executive director of Citizen Action. 

Pro Act was first passed last year, and then-President Trump promised to veto it.

President Joe Biden supports the bill.