By admin 
From San Diego to Eureka, thousands of California state workers are expected to on strike this Wednesday, including those in Sacramento and Fresno.
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SEIU Local 1000, which is California’s largest state worker union with about 100,000 members, is expected to strike after it’s been without a contract since the end of June.
Negotiations for a new contract started in late April. The union is asking for about 20% in wage increases across three years. It is asking for 7% increases in both 2026 and 2027 coupled with a 6% boost in 2028. Union negotiators also want more flexible telework options, stipends for those required to work in office and increase state contributions toward healthcare costs.
But as talks between SEIU Local 1000 and the state appear to falter, state workers plan a one-day walkout.
Here’s what you need to know:
The path to a strike
The union accuses the state of bargaining in bad faith by denying proposals that would affect the budget. Of 16 proposals, nine were rejected June 30 — the same day the previous agreement expired.
Those mass rejections, in part, lead SEIU Local 1000 to file a charge with the Public Employment Relations Board, which issued a complaint in the case, meaning it finds enough substance to allegations to continue hearing it.
As conversations remained stalled, the union conducted a strike authorization vote. About 96.2% of voting members approved a walkout. On Oct. 7, a one-day strike for called for this coming Wednesday. Impasse mediations between the two parties started last Thursday.
Did the Newsom administration block the strike?
The state asked PERB to put a temporary restraining order against the strike because its officials believed impasse mediations should be completed before a walkout. PERB didn’t side with CalHR and rejected the request to halt the walkout.
While CalHR’s attempt to stop the strike failed, PERB classified nearly 1,160 additional workers as essential to public safety, prohibiting them from the walkout. That boosts the total number of essential workers to about 4,400.
Where are Sacramento-area events?
SEIU Local 1000 announced it will have events at various state offices Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. with sign-in starting at 6:30 a.m. Workers will then head to the California Department of Human Resources headquarters, 1810 16th Street in Sacramento, for a strike line, guest speakers and a march to the Capitol Annex Swing Space.
Here are the morning worksite strike line locations:
- Secretary of State, 1500 11th St.
- May Lee Complex, 651 Bannon St.
- Department of Motor Vehicles, 2415 First St.
- California Natural Resources Agency, 715 P St.
- California Department of Education, 1430 N St.
Food is available at most locations on a first come, first served basis. This includes breakfast and lunch.
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Where are strike locations across the state?
There are 15 strike lines outside of Sacramento. Unless otherwise stated, these lined are expected to run from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those attending can register on the union’s website.
- Oakland, 1515 Clay St.
- San Francisco, 505 Van Ness Ave.
- Fresno, 1085 P St.
- Los Angeles, 300 S Spring St.
- Norwalk, 11401 Bloomfield Ave.
- San Bernardino, 464 W Fourth St.
- San Diego, 7575 Metropolitan Drive
- Crescent City, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cooper Avenue and Highway 101
- Eureka, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., K Street and Highway 101
- Redding, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hilltop Drive and Cypress Avenue
- Susanville, 5:15 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2535 Main St.
- El Centro, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Main Street and North Imperial
- Blythe, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., 430 S. Broadway
- Lancaster, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., W Ave. L-6 & 10th Street W.
- Porterville, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1037 W. Henderson Ave.
Will I get paid during the strike day?
No, state workers who participate for the strike will not get paid for that day. SEIU Local 1000 has a strike fund, but it is primarily designated for items like legal fees should a member face retaliation for participating.
Can probationary and temporary employees participate?
SEIU Local 1000’s website says probationary and temporary employees are able to strike. If there are clear instances of unlawful retaliation related to the strike, the union said it will help.
How might the strike affect those calling in sick?
The union said the state has “indicated it may require medical documentation for absences on the strike date,” according to its website.
Do workers have to give notice to their manager?
No. SEIU Local 1000 states “individual members are not required to give notice to their employer in order to participate in a strike.”
Why was an impasse called?
An impasse was called in early September, in part, after SEIU Local 1000 expressed frustrations about mass proposal rejections. Negotiations stalled in late July before impasse mediations began in early October.
The union said negotiations were stalled because the state didn’t have a proposal drawing them to the bargaining table while CalHR said the union refused to negotiate unless there were concessions on the four-day return-to-office mandate.
Is anyone prohibited from going on strike?
Yes. About 4,400 workers are prohibited from going on strike because they are deemed essential to public health and safety. These workers primarily work in state hospitals and prisons. More information about essential workers is available as seiu1000.org/essentialworkers.
When was the last time SEIU Local 1000 went on strike?
Never. The union last threatened a strike in 2016, but a deal was made at the last minute to avoid a walkout. CAPS-UAW, which represents state-employed scientists, went on strike in 2016. Due to the size of SEIU Local 1000’s membership, this strike could be the largest state worker walkout in California history.
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