Thousands of California state workers walked off the job Wednesday in the first strike in SEIU Local 1000’s history, staging demonstrations across the state, including downtown Los Angeles, to protest what the union alleges is the Newsom administration’s failure to bargain in good faith over wages, health care and telework policies.
Union members picketed outside the Ronald Reagan State Building at 300 S. Spring St. in downtown Los Angeles as part of the one-day walkout, while workers in Sacramento rallied outside the California Department of Human Resources and marched to the Capitol Annex Swing Space.
SEIU Local 1000, which represents more than 100,000 state employees working in more than 140 departments and agencies, said tens of thousands of its members participated in Wednesday’s strike.
“Take a look around; you’re all making history. For the first time in SEIU Local 1000 history, we are on strike,” union President Anica Walls told workers gathered in Sacramento.
“We are the workers who keep this state running, and we have been forced to take to the strike line by the Newsom administration’s anti-union tactics. We are here today because California state workers deserve better. We deserve a fair contract and an administration that comes to the bargaining table ready to negotiate in good faith.”
The strike involved state employees including nurses, custodians, cooks and office workers.
In Sacramento, union members carrying signs and chanting “when we fight, we win” demonstrated outside the offices of CalHR, which represents the Newsom administration in collective bargaining, before marching to the Capitol Annex Swing Space.
Workers were joined by members of other state employee organizations, including CASE, CAPS-UAW and PECG. Together, those unions represent more than 126,000 state workers, according to SEIU Local 1000.
The walkout followed a strike authorization vote earlier this month in which 96.2% of participating union members supported the action.
The union last authorized a strike in 2016, but no walkout followed. Wednesday’s action was its first strike.
“SEIU Local 1000 has been out of a contract since July 1. That’s 112 days of holding the line and demanding the State bargain fairly, and it’s all led to this,” Cecelia Wilson, president of the union’s District Labor Council 764 and a striking state worker, said. “This fight hasn’t been easy, but I feel lucky to be in it with all of you.”
The union has been negotiating a new contract with CalHR, seeking a 20% general salary increase over three years, consisting of raises of 7% in 2026, 7% in 2027 and 6% in 2028.
Union officials are also seeking increased state contributions toward employee health care costs, including assistance for workers in rural communities who face limited medical options and higher out-of-pocket expenses.
Another issue involves telework policies. The union is calling for rules based on operational needs that would provide greater transparency and accommodate employees who work remotely as well as those required to report to their workplaces.
SEIU Local 1000 contends the administration has resisted meaningful negotiations on those issues and previously deferred salary increases while pursuing broad telework restrictions.
Newsom’s office did not respond to an earlier request for comment on the union’s allegations or the planned strike.
The California Public Employment Relations Board last week rejected a broader state request to halt the strike, allowing the walkout to proceed for approximately 95,000 workers, subject to essential-staffing requirements intended to protect public health and safety, according to the union.
SEIU Local 1000 said it agreed to exempt designated essential employees from participating in the strike.
Union leaders warned Wednesday that the one-day walkout might not be their last labor action if negotiations fail to produce an agreement.
“Today may be our strike day, but it won’t be the last time we show the State our collective power,” Walls said. “If the State continues to refuse to bargain fairly, we’re prepared to escalate and hold the line. We’re striking today because we believe in what we’re fighting for, we believe in each other and we believe that when workers stand together, we can make change happen.”