California state workers begin one-day strike over contract dispute
publishers 14articles 16first reported 20 Oct, 20:45 UTCdeveloping since 21 Oct · 7 editions
Thousands of California state workers began a one-day strike Wednesday amid stalled contract negotiations between Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration and SEIU Local 1000, the state government’s largest employee union.
The union, which represents about 100,000 workers across dozens of agencies, is seeking a 20% salary increase over three years, higher state contributions to healthcare costs and more flexibility for remote work. Its previous three-year contract expired June 30.
SEIU Local 1000 has accused the state of bargaining in bad faith, an allegation it raised in a complaint to California’s Public Employment Relations Board. Union president Anica Walls said the administration must return to negotiations and reach an agreement that allows workers to afford necessities including rent, groceries and childcare.
The strike also follows Newsom’s order requiring state employees to work in offices four days a week by July 1. The administration has argued that the policy will improve collaboration and public service, while the union says telework offers employees greater flexibility and saves the state money on office space.
About 95,000 represented employees were eligible to participate. Roughly 5,000 workers deemed essential because their absence could threaten public health or safety were expected to remain on duty.
The walkout could delay services at Department of Motor Vehicles offices, unemployment offices and other state facilities, with some offices potentially closing early. The California Department of Human Resources said agencies had contingency plans and that it remained available at the bargaining table.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 6 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 18 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 14
- Source articles
- 16
- Given to the writer
- 8, 3 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 6
- This version written
- 18 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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