Leaders from several major labor unions have announced the launch of Union Now, a new non-profit organization designed to increase union membership and strengthen collective bargaining power across the United States.

The initiative comes as union membership has experienced long-term decline nationwide. According to federal data, union membership rates have dropped significantly over recent decades, with private sector unionization falling to historic lows.

The new organization aims to make it easier for workers to join unions and to strengthen the negotiating position of newly formed unions when dealing with employers. Union organizers say the effort is designed to address what they describe as growing wealth inequality in the American economy.

The launch represents a coordinated effort among prominent labor leaders to reverse trends that have weakened organized labor's influence. The initiative will focus on increasing what organizers term "labor union density" - the percentage of workers who belong to unions in various industries and regions.

Union Now will operate as workers and employers navigate changing economic conditions and evolving workplace dynamics. The organization's specific strategies and funding sources were not immediately detailed in the announcement.