r/news • u/IchTanze • 11h ago

California state workers launching 1-day strike over return-to-office mandate, pay and healthcare

https://apnews.com/article/california-state-workers-strike-newsom-a3a4f547a612a68360e75e7feaaffb96
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u/IchTanze 11h ago

From SEIU Local 1000s strike website:

Why only a one-day strike? October 21 is our strike day, but it won’t be the last time we show the State our collective power. If the State continues to refuse to bargain fairly, we’re prepared to escalate and hold the line.

We also know that missing even one day of pay is a huge sacrifice for members who are already struggling, and we don’t take that lightly. We’re going to be strategic about how we use our collective power and what we ask of our members.

https://www.seiu1000.org/strike/

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u/CrustyKielbasa 10h ago

State worker here piggybacking off of this. Our University of CA system recently had three one-day strikes and got a great contract in response.

This is our unions first ever strike. It's not just about telework - we are only authorized to strike because Gavin Newsom's administration has negotiated in such bad faith. They waited until the day our contract expired to present us with a counter proposal of 0% pay increase over three years, no offset to ballooning health insurance costs, and a blanket return to office mandate. Essentially their counter was "nah fam" on all points.

We have been furloughed twice since COVID. Our purchasing power is lower now than it was in 2000. It's beyond time for this.

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u/chicklette 10h ago

Solidarity, friend!

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u/terrapinflyer 9h ago

This is our first strike in our history and we are the largest union in in the state, I hope it’s a wake up call to the state and my fellow union members and I get the state to come back to the table in good faith. Working remotely doesn’t affect my position but I’m a big supporter of collective bargaining and I’m striking today in solidarity.

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u/PaxEthenica 10h ago

It's as much a shake off run as anything else; a stress test for the unions to see their own weak points, & to possibly shore them up if a longer strike is needed.

RTO is such a stupid, wasteful mandate as gas/energy prices are rising, the CDCs ability to track respiratory outbreaks has been kneecapped, & the winter months are coming. Office managers have every economic incentive this year to seal up their buildings to save money; people are going to get sick for Newsom's buddies.

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u/tyuiopguyt 11h ago

Ah. Noted.

Carry on.

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u/dapperdave 10h ago

I'm really glad you gave those workers your approval.

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u/spankpaddle 10h ago

Its a phrase. Its not that deep. Anyone that spent 5 minutes in the military usually talks like this or at least can.

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u/dapperdave 10h ago

My friends in the military understand that they shouldn't be critiquing workers' strikes because they know nothing about them (you know, because it would lead to execution in a military context and all).

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u/spankpaddle 8h ago

Ah, you're one of these type of people.
Noted.
Carry on.