California's largest state worker union to hold a strike authorization vote

The State Worker California's largest state worker union to hold a strike authorization vote SEIU Local 1000 President Anica Walls announces during a news conference in Sacramento on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, that the union that represents more than 100,000 California state workers will hold a strike authorization vote over unfair labor practices. nlevine@sacbee.com The largest union representing California state workers announced Monday it will hold a strike authorization vote. The union, SEIU Local 1000, has been without a contract since July. 'If our members vote yes, they are giving our union the authority to call a strike, and thousands of state workers could walk off the job if the Newsom administration refuses to bargain fairly,' SEIU Local 1000 President Anica Walls said. SEIU Local 1000, which represents nearly 100,000 state workers across nine bargaining units, will start taking votes Wednesday. Union members can vote on the union's website using their accounts within four weeks. The union filed a charge with the Public Employment Relations Board in late July, when it said the state denied economic proposals, such as raises and return-to-office benefits, at the last minute. Of 16 such proposals, the complaint states, nine were rejected June 30 — the same day the agreement expired. These rejections include supplemental health benefits, a night shift differential, geographic pay differential, a recruitment and retention proposal, seniority differential and overtime meal benefits, according to the complaint. Although proposals with a price tag were rejected by the state, the two parties reached tentative agreements on 13 issues, according to the PERB filing. What these agreements are hasn't been disclosed, but the filing states these provisions update language, ensure compliance with state law and clarify existing practices. SEIU Local 1000 previously held a strike authorization vote in 2016, but an agreement was reached just days before the strike was expected to start. This is a developing story; check back with sacbee.com for updates. Corey Schmidt The Sacramento Bee Email this person 916-321-1126 Corey Schmidt is a watchdog reporter for The Sacramento Bee, focusing on Folsom, El Dorado Hills and Sacramento County's eastern suburbs. Previously, he was the government watchdog reporter for the St. Cloud Times in Minnesota. Schmidt received his bachelor's degree from DePaul University in Chicago and his master's degree from Yale University.