California’s largest state workers’ union, SEIU Local 1000, is set to conduct a one-day strike on October 21, 2026, following a vote in which 96.2% of its members supported the action. The strike is a response to ongoing disputes over wages, benefits, and remote work with the administration of Governor Gavin Newsom. The union represents approximately 100,000 government employees and has indicated that the strike could delay essential services for Californians.
Union president Anica Walls stated in a video message that the strike is in response to what the union describes as the state’s bad-faith bargaining. Demonstrations are planned in front of several government buildings in Sacramento, including the California Department of Human Resources, the Secretary of State building, and the Department of Motor Vehicles headquarters, as well as in cities such as Oakland, Fresno, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Norwalk, and San Bernardino.
Residents may experience delays in services at the DMV and the state’s unemployment and disability insurance offices, according to Walls. The strike would mark the first time the union has gone on strike, with the last strike vote occurring in 2016, which was averted when a labor agreement was reached shortly before the scheduled walkout.
Walls emphasized the importance of the strike, stating, “It is an important step that state employees are taking. They’re exercising their right to hold the line and say, we deserve to be respected, paid, and protected for the work that we do.” The ongoing dispute has been fueled by disagreements over pay and job conditions, particularly regarding a return-to-office order that has faced significant opposition from state unions.
The union’s previous contract expired on June 30 and has not yet been replaced. A spokesperson for the California Department of Human Resources expressed the department's readiness to negotiate a fair agreement, stating, “CalHR remains ready to sit down anytime with the union to negotiate a fair and responsible agreement.” The department also noted its commitment to protecting essential services for Californians.