California State Workers to Strike Oct. 21 Over Wage and Remote Work Disputes

California's largest state workers' union, SEIU Local 1000, announced that its members will stage a one-day strike on October 21. The union, representing 100,000 state employees, reported that 96.2% of voting members approved the action, which comes amid ongoing negotiations over wages, benefits, and remote work policies with Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration.

Union president Anica Walls stated in a video message that the strike is "in response to the State’s alleged bad-faith bargaining." The action is scheduled to occur before Newsom leaves office in January. This marks the first time the union has initiated a strike; a planned walkout in 2016 was averted by a labor agreement reached shortly before the strike date.

Striking workers are expected to picket at various state buildings in Sacramento, including the California Department of Human Resources, the Secretary of State building, the Department of Education May Lee Complex, the Department of Motor Vehicles headquarters, and the Resources Building. Additional strike lines are planned in Oakland, Fresno, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Norwalk, and San Bernardino.

Residents may experience delays in services provided by state agencies, such as the DMV, and state unemployment and disability insurance offices. The union noted that services provided by CalTrans and the State Department of Food and Agriculture could also be impacted.

The contract dispute follows a contentious period marked by disagreement over pay and working conditions, particularly concerning Newsom's return-to-office mandate. The union's previous contract expired on June 30.

A spokesperson for the California Department of Human Resources stated that the state is "ready to sit down anytime with the union to negotiate a fair and responsible agreement" and remains "focused on protecting the critical and essential services that Californians rely on."