We’re getting excited this week for the second annual Netroots Nation conference, where more than 1,000 progressive bloggers and activists will meet face to face. We’ll discuss issues key to the future of our nation—including building a stronger, fairer economy by restoring the freedom to form unions and bargain.

Thursday afternoon’s panel, "The Secret Plan to Defeat the Right Forever," offers an up-close look at why labor law reform like the Employee Free Choice Act is critical to a bigger, stronger empowered middle class and progressive movement.

The AFL-CIO’s Stewart Acuff, a longtime organizer who has traveled the country working on the Employee Free Choice Act campaign, will talk about what union members and their allies are doing to fight for new labor laws that will restore the freedom to form unions to workers.

Acuff will be joined by Jake McIntyre of the Bricklayers (BAC), a contributing editor at Daily Kos; Tanya Tarr, an electoral-data expert who is the new director of Political and Legislative Mobilization at the Texas AFT; and Elana Levin of Workers United. They’ll discuss what union membership means for workers, communities and political change.

If you’re attending Netroots Nation, be sure to stop by. If not, you can watch online at Netroots Nation.

Cross-posted from the AFL-CIO Now Blog.