California State Workers Plan Historic One-Day Strike

SEIU Local 1000, which represents about 100,000 California state employees, plans a one-day strike on Oct. 21 after 96.2% of participating members authorized a work stoppage—the union’s first strike. The union says the contract, which expired June 30, remains unresolved because the Newsom administration has failed to bargain in good faith, and is seeking higher pay, more affordable health coverage and greater telework flexibility. Its proposals include a 20% pay increase over three years, while workers have also objected to the state’s four-day-a-week return-to-office requirement. The state disputes the union’s account of stalled negotiations, says the union is responsible for the lack of recent bargaining, and says it remains ready to negotiate while protecting essential public services.