Nearly 25 people gathered early Friday afternoon in a conference room at Mercer County Tourist Information Center in Sharon. Those present were on hand to express their thoughts on the unionization of attendant care workers for the disabled.

"Our organization represents three industries," said Katie De Bruin of Service Employees International Union. Her organization, the largest in the AFL-CIO with 1.5 million members, is gathering information to determine the benefits and detriments of enfolding into its ranks those who provide physical assistance to the disabled.

Some at the assemblage, sponsored by Community Resources for Independence (CRI) and Helping People with Disabilities (HPD), expressed concern that their voices would not be heard before making the ultimate decision to unionize.

"There have been times in the past where consumers didn't get a chance to voice their opinion," said Vivian LaCamera of those like herself who employ an attendant. "We had no say in what's going on, but we will deal with the system because we have no choice," said the past president and secretary of HPD.

Ms. De Bruin, during the discussion, cited California as the first state to unionize its attendant workers. "Last year, despite a $27 billion budget shortfall, the state's legislature voted to give attendants a $1-an-hour raise," she said. She added that workers in many California counties have health benefits for the first time. Workers in San Francisco saw their wages increase from $4.25 to $10.10 an hour.

Higher wages and medical benefits -- which can be cost prohibitive for many using attendants -- would be among the advantages of joining a union, Ms. De Bruin said. "All consumers, if they could, would raise attendant salary. The union in California took a step back to see what it could do."

While workers in California were able to get out of poverty, individuals were not limited on whom they could hire or fire as their attendant. Upon joining the union, attendants gave up the right to strike in that state, Ms. De Bruin said.

"We don't want to cut services and benefits," she said. "The overall agreement, of not having a right to strike, has to be included in any contract."

Consumers want to retain the power to whom they hire and dismiss, according to Ms. LaCamera.

"Consumers will be more able to chose to live at home and not in a nursing home," Ms. De Bruin said.

She said there is no answer as to what health-care benefits for attendants would include and when plans for a union might go forward. "Consumers and workers have to come together to see what they want," she said. "With budgetary cuts happening, it's important to be organized. Consumers and attendants could make a powerful voting block to help the disabled community. It's important to make your voices heard." About 6,000 to 7,000 Pennsylvanians make use of attendants for assistance.

Ms. De Bruin said the state must make this a priority so the funding for attendant medical benefits can be appropriated. "It's never a one-time thing with funding," she said. "It's something you have to fight for every two or three years. There are priorities and we need to figure them out. All funding comes from the state, and we have to figure out ways to increase revenues."

To further the debate over unionizing attendants, the group also discussed the possibility of future meetings. "All of you can meet on your own," said Chuck Giambroni, a SWAT team leader with the state and an employee of CRI. "The next time we meet, maybe you can have more questions and we can get more ideas."