California's largest state employees' union, SEIU Local 1000, has threatened to strike in an escalating dispute with Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration over wages, benefits, and remote work policies. The union, which represents 100,000 state employees, is polling its members on whether to authorize an unfair practice strike, with voting scheduled from Wednesday to October 7.
"We have never been on strike before," said SEIU Local 1000 President Anica Walls. "We got here today because the Newsom administration has refused to bargain in good faith." Walls accused state negotiators of delaying talks, rejecting proposals without counter-offers, and engaging in "bad faith" bargaining.
The union's previous contract expired on June 30, and a new agreement has yet to be reached. SEIU Local 1000 is seeking fair pay, affordable healthcare, and telework options that meet members' needs. Negotiations with the state reportedly began on April 22.
The dispute also involves Newsom's administration's push for state workers to return to the office, a policy that has drawn significant backlash from state unions.
Even if union members vote to authorize a strike, it is not guaranteed to occur. The union must notify the state and the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) of its intentions. The state could then request that PERB protect critical public services, and the board would determine the legality and appropriateness of the strike before it could proceed.
In 2016, SEIU Local 1000 began a strike vote, but a labor agreement was reached days before the planned walkout. The California Department of Human Resources stated it had no comment on the union's internal actions but affirmed that "the state will continue to bargain in good faith to reach an agreement." The department added, "If necessary, the state will explore all available options and implement those that reasonably protect critical public services."