SEIU Local 1000 Launches Historic Strike Against Newsom Over Contract Impasse
Thousands of California state workers staged a one-day strike on October 21, 2026, marking the first walkout in the 44-year history of SEIU Local 1000. The union, representing approximately 100,000 employees, is demanding a 20% raise over three years, lower healthcare costs, and changes to the state’s four-day return-to-office mandate. Negotiations have stalled since the contract expired in late June, with the union accusing the administration of bad-faith bargaining. Mediation talks are scheduled to resume on October 30.