California State Workers Vote on a Strike: What SEIU Local 1000 Members Should Know

More than 100,000 California state workers represented by SEIU Local 1000 are voting through October 7, 2026, on whether to authorize a strike against the Newsom administration, after contract talks stalled over pay, health care and the state’s four-day return-to-office mandate. On October 2, the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) declared the talks at impasse and sent the two sides to mediation.

SEIU Local 1000 is the state’s largest state-worker union, covering a wide range of jobs across state departments. Its contract expired June 30, and no strike has been called. A yes vote would give union leaders the authority to call one; it would not start a strike on its own. Results are expected after voting closes on October 7, and we will update this post when they are announced.

This post explains what has happened so far, how bargaining works for California state employees, and the practical questions state workers are asking. It is general information, not advice on how to vote or whether to strike.

What happened

Bargaining between SEIU Local 1000 and the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), which negotiates for the Governor, began in April 2026, ahead of the contract’s June 30 expiration. According to the union and news reports, its priorities include raises (The Sacramento Bee reported the union proposed 20% over three years), affordable health care, retirement security, and telework. A state policy requiring most state workers to be in the office four days a week took effect July 1, replacing the earlier two-day requirement.

The union says the state rejected many of its proposals without counteroffers. On July 22 it filed an unfair practice charge with PERB alleging bad-faith bargaining, and PERB has since issued a complaint, which means the board found the allegations sufficient to move forward, not that it has ruled against the state. CalHR has said it is bargaining in good faith, and in its response to the impasse request it said the union declined to return to the table unless the state moved on the in-office mandate.

The union announced the strike authorization vote on Labor Day, September 7, and voting opened September 9. On September 29 the union asked PERB to declare an impasse, and PERB granted the request on October 2, bringing in a mediator. CalHR said the state remains open to negotiation and is prepared to mediate. SEIU President Anica Walls told FOX40 that a yes vote shows “we are prepared to strike.”

This would be a first: according to FOX40, the union has never gone on strike against the state. Its members authorized a strike in 2016, but the walkout was called off at the last moment.

Date (2026)	Event
April 22	Contract bargaining begins
June 30	SEIU Local 1000 contract expires
July 1	Four-day-per-week in-office requirement takes effect
July 22	Union files unfair practice charge with PERB
September 7	Union announces strike authorization vote
September 9	Voting opens
September 29	Union asks PERB to declare impasse
October 2	PERB declares impasse; mediation begins
October 7	Voting closes; results expected afterward

Key fact

Watch: SEIU Local 1000 members prepare to vote

What this means for California state workers

For now, nothing changes in your day-to-day job. You report to work under your current schedule and terms. A strike authorization is a signal and a tool: it lets union leaders call a strike later if they decide to, usually with advance notice to members. The union has said it will give members details about dates and locations ahead of any action.

Mediation is the next step. A neutral mediator will try to help CalHR and the union reach a deal. Many public-sector disputes settle at this stage, and the 2016 history shows that an authorization vote does not always lead to a walkout.

If a strike does happen, the practical consequences are real. The union has told members that workers are not paid for strike days, and its strike fund is for strike-related costs, not wage replacement. Unemployment benefits are also generally unavailable to workers who leave work because of a trade dispute (Unemployment Insurance Code section 1262). CalHR has said that, if necessary, the state will take steps to protect critical public services, which could include asking which positions must stay staffed.

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How the law protects state workers during bargaining

Collective bargaining between the State of California and its employees is governed by the Ralph C. Dills Act (Government Code section 3512 and following). Here are the basics, in general terms:

• Duty to bargain in good faith. The state must meet and confer in good faith with the union on wages, hours and other terms of employment (Gov. Code sections 3517 and 3519). Unions have a parallel duty (Gov. Code section 3519.5).
• PERB enforces the rules. PERB decides unfair practice charges under the Dills Act. A charge generally must be filed within six months of the conduct (Gov. Code section 3514.5).
• Expired contracts. When a contract expires without a new one, the Dills Act generally keeps its terms in effect while the parties bargain. After a genuine impasse, the law may allow the state to implement parts of its last, best and final offer (Gov. Code section 3517.8). How that plays out here is one of the issues the parties may contest.
• Strikes. No statute expressly gives state workers a right to strike. The California Supreme Court has held that strikes by most public employees are not unlawful unless they create an imminent threat to public health or safety or the Legislature has prohibited them. PERB has generally treated strikes during unfinished impasse procedures as presumptively unlawful, which is why timing and the type of strike matter. Employees in essential positions may be required to keep working.
• Protection for union activity. State employees have the right to take part in union activities, or to decline to, and the state may not threaten, discriminate against or retaliate against workers for exercising those rights (Gov. Code sections 3515 and 3519).

Your individual workplace rights continue regardless of bargaining. If you need to work remotely because of a disability, you can still request a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (Gov. Code section 12940(m)), and an in-office mandate does not eliminate the state’s duty to engage in the interactive process. And if you are disciplined or singled out for complaining about safety, discrimination or illegal conduct, see our guide on retaliation claims in California.

What to do now

1. If you are a member, decide and vote before voting closes on October 7. The union says a majority of the members who vote decides the outcome.
2. Get information from official sources. Read updates from your union and CalHR, and be wary of rumors about strike dates.
3. Plan for the possibility of unpaid days. If a strike is called, you would not be paid for days you do not work, and unemployment benefits are generally not available during a strike.
4. Find out whether your position is designated essential. If it is, follow the instructions you receive and ask your union representative about your obligations.
5. Document any retaliation. Write down dates, names and what was said if you are threatened or treated differently because of union activity. Unfair practice charges generally must be filed within six months.
6. Keep your other rights in view. Accommodation requests, leave and discrimination complaints follow their own rules and deadlines, separate from the contract fight. If you lose your job, our guide to unemployment after being fired explains how benefits work.

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Frequently asked questions

Does a yes vote mean state workers will go on strike?

No. A strike authorization gives union leaders the power to call a strike, but a separate decision is needed, and the union has said members will get advance information about any action. Mediation is now underway.

When will the SEIU 1000 strike vote results be announced?

Voting closes October 7, 2026. Results are expected after that date, and we will update this post when they are released.

Can California state workers be fired for striking?

The answer depends on whether a particular strike is lawful, which PERB and the courts decide based on timing, the type of strike and whether essential services are affected. The state may not retaliate against workers for lawful union activity. If you are disciplined in connection with a strike, get advice quickly.

Will I get paid or collect unemployment during a strike?

Generally no. Workers are not paid for strike days, and the Unemployment Insurance Code generally disqualifies workers who leave work because of a trade dispute.

Does the impasse declaration end negotiations?

No. It moves the parties into mediation with a neutral mediator. Bargaining continues, and both sides have said they are open to reaching an agreement.

By the numbersOctober 7, 2026

Sources

• SEIU Local 1000: 2026 Contract Campaign
• FOX40: State workers to hold strike vote as negotiations drag on (Sept. 2026)
• NationofChange: California’s largest state worker union opens strike vote against Newsom administration (Sept. 10, 2026)
• CBS Sacramento: California state workers to vote on strike as contract talks with Newsom administration stall (Sept. 7, 2026)
• The Sacramento Bee (via Yahoo News): Labor agency declares ‘impasse’ in SEIU Local 1000 negotiations for state workers (Oct. 2, 2026)

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