Politics
California’s largest state workers’ union plans first statewide walkout in its history
Tens of thousands of SEIU Local 1000 members are expected to strike for one day Wednesday, potentially disrupting DMV, unemployment and other state services. The union says Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration has bargained in bad faith as contract talks continue.
Tens of thousands of California state employees represented by SEIU Local 1000 are expected to leave their jobs Wednesday, Oct. 21, in a one-day statewide strike that could affect services at the Department of Motor Vehicles, unemployment offices and other agencies.
The walkout would be the first statewide strike in the union’s 44-year history. SEIU Local 1000 represents about 100,000 public employees working across dozens of state agencies, including accountants, analysts, nurses, information technology workers and custodians.
The union is protesting what it describes as bad-faith bargaining by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration. Negotiations are underway for a new labor agreement after the union’s previous three-year contract expired June 30.
The strike’s potential effects could extend beyond public counters: state workers serve residents through a broad range of agencies and roles. The extent of any service interruptions was not specified.