California State Workers Plan First-Ever Statewide Strike
About 100,000 California state employees represented by SEIU Local 1000 are expected to stage a one-day strike Wednesday, Oct. 21, in the union’s first statewide walkout, amid stalled contract talks and allegations that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration has not bargained in good faith. The union is seeking higher wages, more affordable health care and greater flexibility around telework; it says 96% of members who voted authorized the strike. The state says it remains willing to negotiate and is prepared to use mediation, while a labor board reportedly found that the state’s human resources department failed to meet and confer in good faith. If the strike proceeds, DMV, unemployment and food-assistance services could face delays or reduced hours, and some state park operations may be affected; the union may still call off the walkout before Wednesday.
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