The program has 125 students, most of whom are recreation and home-care aides and want to advance in their careers.

All sides agree that home-care aides hired directly by the elderly or infirm are exempt from those protections.

One stated that home-care aides would be exempt only when they worked in a private home "of the person by whom he or she is employed."

While home-care aides can come into an older person's home to assist with housekeeping, shopping, cooking, and other tasks, it's not always enough.

In many ways, home-care aides are the garment workers of the modern New York economy.

Industry officials say it is unclear how this push for more government money will affect the wages paid to home-care aides hired by private patients.

Soon after the organizing drive began in 1987, state courts ruled that the home-care aides were independent contractors without the right to unionize.

Labor leaders assert that unionizing these home-care aides will help worker and client alike.

Help-wanted signs were in 10 or 15 stores, she said, and there are always opportunities to work as a maid or a home-care aide.

She depended on a home-care aide who visited her regularly, they said.