In Maine’s Bangor Daily News, Mike Allen, an Air Force veteran and union letter carrier, writes in favor of the Employee Free Choice Act. In the course of an incredibly powerful telling of his father’s history and his history as union members and the benefits they received by being part of the union, Allen puts forth a key point: citizens are allowed to join the military with their signature and ought to be able to form a union with the same.

Honoring the brave men and women who serve our country starts with fighting for an economy that works for everyone. They should have the same opportunities I have had. It is no surprise that the decline of the middle class can be linked to the decline of unions in America. One solution to making sure workers can level the playing field is by giving them the opportunity to collectively bargain for fair wages and benefits. If we continue down the path we have followed for the past 30 years, the middle class will quickly disappear.

I support the Employee Free Choice Act because if enacted, it would let workers form a union when a simple majority of workers in the workplace sign cards indicating they want one instead of going through a company-controlled process.

In the Air Force we had a saying for complainers: “You signed your name on the dotted line.” Each of us knew what we were doing when we joined up. If my signature was good enough to serve in our military, it should be good enough to be honored by my government and employer when I sign up to join a union.

America’s veterans have sacrificed much to protect our way of life. We honor them not by valuing the short-term greed of CEOs more than long-term economic health of the middle class. Working families power our economy, and working families are struggling now more than ever to make ends meet.

Allen’s whole piece is worthy of attention. Maine’s two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, are key votes that could possibly determine whether or not there is meaningful labor reform in this Congress. I’d hope that Collins’ and Snowe’s offices put his words in front of them as just the latest piece of evidence that should compel them to support Employee Free Choice.