California state workers set to strike over wages, telework and healthcare

SEIU Local 1000 says about 5,000 essential workers will report during the strike

According to SEIU Local 1000, California’s public employment relations board determined a list of about 5,000 workers deemed essential, and those workers will report to work during the strike.

Thousands of California state workers were set to strike Wednesday and picket government buildings in several cities after negotiations with Gavin Newsom’s administration reached an impasse. Wednesday’s picketing marked a first for SEIU Local 1000, which represents roughly 100,000 public employees, including nurses and teachers.

SEIU Local 1000 said it was pushing for higher wages, flexible telework and affordable healthcare.

The union’s contract expired on June 30, and the parties have been at an impasse since then. SEIU Local 1000 negotiators said state officials rejected key proposals: a 20% salary increase over three years, higher state healthcare contributions and flexible telework. The telework proposal came as Newsom required state workers to be in office four days a week.

Union representatives alleged in a complaint filed with California’s public employment relations board that the state engaged in bad faith bargaining. Union representatives said state officials waited until June 30 to respond to some proposals and said there was “no money” for additional compensation.

California’s department of human resources, also known as CalHR, reportedly attempted to block the strike. CalHR argued that SEIU Local 1000 did not have plans to exempt essential workers and said the union was compromising public health and safety.

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

Anica Walls, president of SEIU Local 1000, raised her fist during an earlier July 1, 2026 rally at the Capitol in Sacramento protesting Gavin Newsom’s return-to-office policy. Newsom required state workers to be in office four days a week, and SEIU Local 1000 made flexible telework one of its contract demands.