When Liberty Home Choices decided to close its home care operation, attendants, consumers, and families were left facing a lot of uncertainty. Across home care, when an agency closes, workers are too often left with nothing.

But… LHC workers were in a different position — because we had a union.

WHAT WORKERS WON

Together, workers won:

  • A closure letter for all attendants documenting that LHC closed its home care operation

  • A commitment to provide employment records, including documents like TB tests and background checks

  • Up to 8 hours of PTO for workers employed as of May 1

  • Severance pay for eligible attendants who did not have an assigned LHC client

  • Up to $1,000 for attendants in the TEF tuition assistance program

  • Support around paycheck errors and overpayment repayment issues

ACTION NEEDED: REQUEST YOUR RECORDS

Don't forget to request your employment records as soon as possible. These records will be helpful for future opportunities.

To request your records:

Email: records@homechoices.org

Phone: 267-857-8699

Sadly, Liberty Resources made the decision to close their home care agency, Liberty Home Choices. As a result, over the next 60 days, consumers will be advised to choose a new provider for their ongoing care. Your union is here to support you and your consumer during this transition.

We encourage you to advise your consumer to take their time and make the decision that feels right.  It is important that you are both able to transition to a new care system that values consumer independence and respects the work that you do!

What’s THE CONTEXT?

If your consumer cares about Good wages / paid training / quality care / union protections — We have two recommendations on what direction to go:

OPTION #1
Participant-Direction

If your consumer believes you should continue to have the power of a union behind you, our first recommendation is for them to choose participant-directed care through Tempus. At Tempus, your consumer will set your hours instead of an agency middle-man. Union caregivers and consumers just won $21 million to raise wages above $16/hr in the Philadelphia area. Working through Tempus is the only way to do homecare and still be part of a union in Philadelphia.

For help starting Tempus enrollment, call your Member Resource Center at 1 (800) 252-3894.

DOWNLOAD TEMPUS TRANSITION GUIDE HERE

OPTION #2
HOME CARE ASSOCIATES

If Tempus isn’t right for your consumer, our second recommendation is for both you and your consumer to move to Home Care Associates. Home Care Associates is not your average agency. They are a worker owned co-op where direct care workers are paid weekly, have health insurance, get paid time off (including your birthday), and the respect that comes from having a voice. At Home Care Associates caregivers are not just employees, they are also co-owners, with a seat on the board and and a share of the annual profits. The union is working closely with Home Care Associates to assist Liberty attendants and consumers who are interested in transitioning there. To learn more call (267) 238 3215 or (215) 789 0491 or visit hca.elevate.coop.

DOWNLOAD HOME CARE ASSOCIATES BROCHURE HERE

WHY THE UNION MATTERS

Because attendants had a union contract, we had the right to bargain over the effects of the closure. That means workers had the right to demand information, identify priorities, and push LHC to lessen the impact of the closure as much as possible.

At first, LHC refused to bargain, refused to provide information, and failed to communicate clearly with workers and the union. It was clear LHC thought they could do what too many home care agencies do: close up and move on without doing right by workers.

So we took LHC to court.

Through that legal action, LHC agreed to bargain with the union and collaborate on a better communication plan for attendants and consumers.

Your bargaining committee then organized meetings, talked with workers, reviewed information, and fought to win as much as possible.

We did not win everything workers deserved. But LHC started by refusing to bargain, offering nothing, and even seeking repayment from some workers. Because workers had a union and fought back, LHC was forced to come to the table and agree to real protections.

Stay connected and keep fighting for the future of home care.

LET’s BE CLEAr

QUESTIONS OR ISSUES?

If you have questions or believe there is an issue with your paycheck, PTO, severance, tuition assistance, or records request, contact the Member Resource Center at 📞 1-800-252-3894 or 412-222-9514