For the last thirteen years I have been a home care aid in Lucasville, OH. I work each day to ensure that senior citizens can continue to live independently, adults and children with disabilities can live with dignity and people facing terminal illnesses have access to critical treatments. My job is hard work and I don't get paid all that well. I can't help but wonder how I will pay the bills when I retire because I'm barely paying the bills now. Frankly, I don't see how I'm ever going to be able to stop working.

I might be frustrated, but I am not helpless.

I spent this summer in Washington, D.C. with seven other SEIU Members talking to our elected officials about the issues facing working families like mine. You see, I've always voted and I've always paid attention to politics, but until this summer, I never believed there was room for my voice in Washington.

But I learned the tools and proved myself wrong.

When the Senate was considering legislation this summer that not only preserved critical Medicaid programs but also protected one million jobs, I knew what I had to do. I had to make sure Ohio politicians knew exactly how I felt. As far as I am concerned, politicians like Ohio Senator Voinonvich work for me and every other citizen of the state. So when I ran into the Senator in the halls of the Capitol Building, I explained exactly why Ohio needed his support on the legislation.

When it came time to vote, Voinivich turned his back on working families and voted no. As disappointed as I was, the Senator just gave me one more reason to come back to Washington and make sure my voice is heard.

This Labor Day, I am committed to making sure that my politicians can hear my voice. Loud and clear.

Check out more SEIU members' stories and vision for our country this Labor Day here: http://seiu.me/laborday.