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Tens of thousands of California state workers are walking off the job on Wednesday as part of an unprecedented one-day strike, affecting government services like the Department of Motor Vehicles.
SEIU Local 1000, which represents 100,000 government employees, said that 96.2% of its voting members voted to strike today before Gov. Gavin Newsom terms out of the governorship in January — potentially delaying basic services Californians rely on.
“State workers have spoken loud and clear,” said union president Anica Walls in a video message, with the union adding that it’s “in response to the state’s alleged bad-faith bargaining.”
The union has been in an ongoing feud over wages, benefits and remote work with the Newsom administration.
The two sides have tussled over higher pay and job conditions — as Newsom refused to budge on a return-to-office order that sparked a furious backlash from state unions.
The union’s prior contract, which expired June 30, has yet to be replaced.
A spokesperson for the the California Department of Human Resources said to the California Post that “CalHR remains ready to sit down anytime with the union to negotiate a fair and responsible agreement.”
“The state remains focused on protecting the critical and essential services that Californians rely on,” the department added. The union and CalHR are scheduled to meet for mediation Oct. 30.
Striking workers in the state’s capitol are expected to stage demonstrations in front of the California Department of Human Resources, the Secretary of State building, the Department of Education May Lee Complex, the Department of Motor Vehicles headquarters and the Resources Building, Walls said.
According to the union’s website, there are also strike lines in front of government buildings in Oakland, Fresno, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Norwalk and San Bernardino.
Residents should expect potential service delays at the DMV and the state’s unemployment and disability insurance offices, Walls said.
Walls urged Californians “to give our employees some grace.”
“If you happen to go to the DMV office and the services are limited, make an appointment for another day,” Walls said.
About 5,000 workers are legally excluded from participating because their absence “would create an imminent and substantial threat to public health or safety,” according to the union.
The Wednesday walkout would mark the first time the massive union has gone on strike.
The last time it initiated a strike vote was in 2016, but a labor agreement was reached days before the walkout was scheduled to begin.