Thousands of California state employees begin one-day strike over stalled contract talks

Thousands of California state workers began a sweeping one-day strike on Wednesday, with workers set to rally outside government buildings in several cities, as tensions boiled over lapsed contract negotiations with Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration.

SEIU Local 1000, a union representing roughly 100,000 public employees including nurses and teachers, has been pushing for higher wages, flexible telework and affordable healthcare.

The union has been at an impasse with the state since its contract expired on 30 June.

SEIU Local 1000’s negotiators say state officials rejected their key proposals: a 20 percent salary increase over three years, higher state healthcare contributions and flexible telework. Newsom has required state workers to be in the office four days a week.

The union’s president, Anica Walls, said in a statement that they are going on strike because they know the Newsom administration can and must do better. They must return to the table and bargain in good faith toward a contract that allows state workers to afford groceries, childcare, rent and other necessities, she said.

Union representatives also argued in a complaint filed with California’s public employment relations board that the state engaged in bad-faith bargaining, allegedly waiting until 30 June to respond to some proposals and saying there was no money for additional compensation.

The state has not commented publicly on the status of the contract negotiations, citing confidentiality, and a spokesperson for Newsom’s office did not immediately comment on the work stoppage.

Wednesday’s picketing marked a first for the union.

California’s department of human resources, CalHR, had reportedly attempted to block the strike, arguing the union did not have plans to exempt essential workers and was thus compromising public health and safety. The labour board determined a list of about 5,000 workers deemed essential, according to the union, who will report to work during the strike.

The one-day stoppage may briefly affect state services, but its real significance lies in the future of the contract talks. Attention now turns to whether the union and the administration return to the table and reach an agreement.