On May 5, over 12,000 Missouri home care attendants celebrated a huge victory for the future of quality home care in our state. By a 60-percent to 40-percent margin, we voted to unite in the Missouri Home Care Union for a stronger voice on the job, in our communities and in the State Capitol.

"This is a great day for me and my consumer. And it comes not a minute too soon with budget cuts threatening home care. This election brings together thousands of attendants and our consumers to give a more powerful voice to protect home care."

                                                         - Elinor Simmons, Home Care Attendant, St. Louis

Missouri home care attendants join home care workers in more than 10 other states--including Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, Washington and California--who have united to improve the quality of care available to seniors and people with disabilities.

For months Missouri attendants and their consumers have been coming together in Jefferson City to fight against state budget cuts that threaten home care for over 40,000 Missourians. One day after hundreds gathered in the State Capitol to lobby lawmakers on the dangerous effect arbitrary hours caps would have on consumers, the state withdrew the hours caps proposal.

"When we stopped the cuts, we showed what we can do when we come together," said Jeanetta Caw, a home care worker from St. Joseph. "Now, with today's victory, we're even stronger in our fight to save quality home care."