Some 75,000 home care workers in Los Angeles County, who earn only minimum wage but whose efforts allow the ill and the elderly to remain in their homes, are flexing a little more muscle these days.

The Southern California caregivers, who handle everything from dusting furniture and dispensing medication to helping with physical therapy, have banded together to form a union-Local 434B of the Service Employees International Union. It could, they hope, pay off in higher wages and establishment of health benefits. "I would imagine a good majority do not have any health coverage at all," says Jerry Vaughan, union communications spokesman.

But beefing up wages and gaining health coverage could take a little doing. The caregivers, who are hired by individuals, are paid by county, state and national funds funneled through In-Home Supportive Services, a state program, Vaughan says. All entities will have to pony up some money to support the workers. Already, however, a California General Assembly bill that would increase the money earmarked for home care workers is gaining support-and Vaughan says the union is hopeful that Gov. Gray Davis' revised budget, set to come out in May, will reflect that support.