Vetoed…😩😩😩😩

This post might not make it through due to low karma, but I can’t post on my main account.

CalHR noted that, based on SOCIAL MEDIA posts and responses, the strike vote is likely to carry. But they indicated it would only be a couple of days because there’s no strike fund.

They’re banking on employees being too poor to strike!

Before all of this, I used to feel incredibly lucky and happy to be a state employee. I was grateful for my job and genuinely enjoyed what I did. But these past few months have completely changed how I feel.
Pay cuts and the four-day RTO has taken a toll on me mentally and physically, and it has started affecting so many other areas of my life. I know I can’t be the only one feeling exhausted, stressed, and just worn down by the uncertainty of everything.
At this point, I just want some kind of conclusion. Whether things change or they don’t, I think a lot of us just want to know where this is ultimately going so we can make our own decisions about what we want to do next.
I’m curious how everyone else is feeling now that we’ve been living with this for a while.

Email from HR today tells supervisors to mark employees as awol if they participate in a strike.

Hi people. I’m not in the union because I’m further up the chain but I’ll be striking in solidarity if you vote for it.

One thing that really concerns me is public messaging that you cannot fuck up. Please don’t go around saying anything about a 20% raise. You are not asking for 20% and anyone that says this will be absolutely raked through the coals in the media. Especially rightist propaganda that controls significant sway.

The messaging you should use is “7% raise” and “telework that will save tax payers money.” And “reduced office building to save the state even more.”

Please tell anyone and everyone not to say “20%” because you’ll come across as greedy. Get the messaging right and you’ll win for all of us.

https://www.seiu1000.org/2026contract/

“Here’s what you need to know: for months, we’ve heard excuses about why state workers should settle for less. But state revenues are coming in billions of dollars higher than projected, which means California has the resources to invest in the workforce that keeps our state running.”

“Our bargaining team advanced a proposal that would deliver 20% in General Salary Increases over the next three years:
7% in 2026
7% in 2027
and 6% in 2028”

And MUCH MORE including Telework!

Thank you for showing up. 💟
(For those who were wondering: no swag, just sandwich)

Just put in my vote and committed to the strike!!

Happy voting!!

When talking about this year’s bargaining situation, you could sense their frustration.

SEIU’s chief negotiator Bobby Roy: “I am sick and tired of it. It’s never been this bad.”

He then mentioned that a department chief followed them as they put up flyers for the strike school. That chief tore down the flyers as soon as they were posted.

When they confronted the chief and asked if they were tearing down the flyers, the chief replied, “YES”

The war is real.

SEIU’s lawyer Kerianne Steele:
You may really need to go on a strike.
It’s not something to be ashamed at all.
Nothing to be apologetic about.
It is our right to strike.

Bring your kids (family). You are standing up for something for yourself, and for them.

We are rebalancing the power, changing the relationship with the employer in a positive way.

It is a financial sacrifice, but there is a longer term value that we cannot put a price tag on.

Talk to your colleagues, join the fight. Be prepared.

A few union stewards came by our office today and spoke to each individual rank and file employee in their cubicles handing out flyers on striking and answering questions. Lots of coworkers said they were down to strike. Managers obviously heard their presence and knows we ain't fucking around this time.

I’m done with Gavin Newsom.
State workers have legitimate questions about RTO: Where is the data? Where is the parking? Where is the office space? What does this cost taxpayers? How does it improve services?
Instead, we’re getting dismissive comments about workers being lonely, socializing, and maybe even falling in love at the office.
Respectfully, Governor: this framing is unacceptable and out of touch.
My personal life is none of your business. My relationships are none of your business. You’re the governor, not a therapist, matchmaker, or commentator on employees’ private lives. Govern.
And here’s something else people should know.
From my own experience inside state government, I know leadership has used paid contractors for off-site leadership trainings where lunch is provided. I’ve experienced enough of this firsthand to be frustrated watching rank-and-file employees get lectured about needing to return to an office for “collaboration” and “connection.”
And to the executive leadership pushing this while employees deal with the consequences: this disconnect is unacceptable.
But where are the follow-up questions?
Media: When Newsom gives a lighthearted answer about falling in love, why aren’t you asking about parking, office capacity, costs, productivity data, and whether agencies even have enough functional workspace?
Union: Where are you?
And to everyone who opposes RTO: Where are YOU?
I see you on Reddit. I see the comments. I see hundreds of people saying the same things anonymously. But when it’s time to speak publicly, challenge the narrative, or demand answers, suddenly everybody disappears.
We can’t complain anonymously forever and then wonder why nothing changes.
I don’t want government managing my personal life. I want government answering questions about government policy.
Show us the data. Show us the costs. Show us the results. Show us why this is necessary.
Until then, spare me the jokes.
My commute is your business.
My parking is your business.
Taxpayer money is your business.
My personal life is not.
And Governor, if you’re positioning yourself for higher office?
Not with my vote.
Gavin Newsom is fired.

A SEIU STRIKE IS NOT GUARANTEED.

Only 51% of rank-and-file employees are SEIU members. We cannot assume the YES vote will pass.

If you’ve been calling for a strike, don’t assume and rely on others to make it happen. Failing the strike vote would be embarrassing and prove Newsom right.

Let’s show Newsom we are DONE with his shitty antics.

YOU need to Join SEIU NOW to Vote YES to ensure it passes!

Get your coworkers to join too!

👉 https://www.seiu1000.org/sign-up/

FAQs: https://www.seiu1000.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Strike-FAQ_Flyer.pdf

I’m talking to coworkers and going through commitments and I sense a lot of fear and the loss of pay.

Those reasons above are the main reasons why we should strike. We cannot afford NOT to strike.

Despite not offering us anything, CalHR and the Governor are hoping this is the norm and we accept this without fighting back.

Striking sucks and is a challenge. But guess what? All of you can do challenging things.

Make sure to vote: https://search.seiu1000.org/strikevote.php

Make sure to commit after you vote: https://search.seiu1000.org/insights.php?sv=StrikeCommit2026

California state workers need to prepare for a lawful, union-authorized strike.

SEIU Local 1000’s negotiations have not worked. Let’s be honest: the bargaining strategy has been weak for years. Many of us feel like the union has been negotiating from a position of fear instead of power, and after two decades of falling behind, workers are tired of hearing excuses.

California just signed a roughly $352 billion budget. The State collected about $265.6 billion in state taxes in 2024. This is not a broke employer. This is one of the largest governments in the world, and it runs because state workers keep showing up every day.

But what have we gotten?

Return to office four days a week.

More gas.

More parking.

More wear on our cars.

More unpaid commute time.

More childcare pressure.

Less flexibility.

Pay that does not match California’s cost of living.

Healthcare costs that keep eating into raises.

Newer employees who came in under weaker pension rules than previous generations.

A state job used to mean a fair trade: lower pay than private sector, but good benefits, stability, and quality of life. That bargain is being destroyed. New employees are getting less. Older employees are being squeezed. Everyone is being told to be grateful while the State keeps taking more.

RTO is a pay cut.

Weak raises are a pay cut.

Higher benefit costs are a pay cut.

Every extra hour in traffic is time stolen from our families.

And SEIU’s old approach is not working. Polite bargaining, symbolic rallies, weak messaging, and accepting crumbs have not solved the problem. If the State knows workers will complain but still show up no matter what, then the State has no reason to take us seriously.

So what needs to happen?

First, members need to organize at the worksite level. Talk to coworkers. Build contact lists. Find out who is ready to fight and who needs more information.

Second, members need to pressure SEIU leadership directly. Demand a real strike-readiness plan, not vague slogans. We need timelines, strike education, legal guidance, member meetings, and transparent communication.

Third, SEIU should hold a strike authorization vote if the State refuses to offer a serious salary increase, real telework protections, and affordable benefits.

Fourth, no one should freelance or do a wildcat action. We need a lawful, union-authorized strike with clear instructions, legal protection, and member unity.

Fifth, we need to prepare the public message now: state workers are not the problem. We are the people who process claims, maintain systems, support public programs, keep offices running, and serve Californians every day. We are not asking for luxury. We are asking for fair pay, fair benefits, and respect.

Sixth, if the State still refuses to move, then we withhold our labor together.

No fair raise, no business as usual.

California works because state workers do.

Talk to your coworkers.

Show up to union meetings.

Demand better from SEIU.

Demand a strike authorization vote.

Prepare to lawfully withhold labor.

The State has had decades to fix this. SEIU has had decades to negotiate stronger contracts. The result is not good enough.

It is time for members to lead.

https://www.seiu1000.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7.22.26_UPC_v4_Redacted.pdf?emci=9cbc4c90-7587-f111-b337-000d3a1558ce&emdi=29b728ef-8987-f111-b337-000d3a1558ce&ceid=83076984

Looks like our rage broke through and the larger umbrella SEIU CA took down the Instagram post with Newsom.

Thank god.

Fk Newsom and CalHR for how they treat their own workers.

Thank you for those who contacted SEIU Local 1000’s membership resource center phone line.

Today at dhcs office , emergency union meeting is in progress. I met bob and he said we are preparing for a strike and will update you guys soon.

Ballots will go to member’s personal emails, so make sure the union has that info!

Tl;dr: State still sucks

Just got their proposal via an email to members. I think the last one (the daily investment stipend) is funny and strategic. All of this sounds reasonable to me. Any thoughts?

"Our Proposal for Telework That Works

🧑‍💻 100% Full-Time Telework

The State shall have the burden to demonstrate, by clear and compelling evidence, why the employee is unable to perform the essential duties and functions of their job 100% remotely.

📍Accessible Parking at No Cost

ALL state employees required to report in person will be provided with a parking spot at their worksite at no cost.

🚗 Commuter Stipend

A daily stipend of $25 for ALL employees who work and/or live in areas where public transit is not readily available.

💰 High Crime Worksite Stipend

A $500 monthly stipend will be provided for employees required to work in “high crime” worksite locations.

💜 Clean Workspaces

For employees required to report in person, the state must provide evidence that there is adequate office space, a regular schedule of deep cleanings for workstations, and confirm the availability of PPE.

🏙️ Statewide Investment in Local Downtown Economies and Small Businesses

A daily $25 stipend for ALL employees required to work in-person to support Governor Newsom’s aspiration and objective to use the state workforce to bolster, supplement, and otherwise invest in downtown economies and local businesses."

I’ve been hearing concerns that California’s next governor may not support telework for state employees.
Does anyone know where he actually stand on telework and RTO for state workers?
After everything state employees have been dealing with under the current RTO policy, I really want to understand whether there’s any possibility of a different approach under the next administration.
Has anyone seen statements from the candidates about telework, hybrid schedules, or the current RTO mandate?

With the 4-day RTO now in place and all the union discussions, possible actions, and uncertainty around it, what do you realistically think is going to happen from here?
Do you think 4 days in office is here to stay, or is there a realistic chance we eventually get reduced to 2 days? I know nobody can predict the future, but I’m curious what other state employees genuinely think the outcome will be once all of this plays out.