SEIU Local 1000 Members Authorize Unfair Practice Strike

SEIU Local 1000 members voted to authorize an Unfair Practice Strike in response to the State’s alleged bad-faith bargaining. And for the first time in our union’s history, we will go on strike. The strike will take place on Wednesday, October 21.

Find a strike line below and prepare to take action.

Join a Strike Line

Sacramento

Our Sacramento Strike Line will take place in two phases: Sacramento members should report to their closest worksite Strike Line in the morning, then join us at CalHR for Phase Two. Please register for a worksite Strike Line followed by our CalHR rally below!

PHASE ONE

Worksite Strike Lines

📍SOS, 1500 11th St

⏰ 6:30 AM Sign In Begins!

✊ 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM Strike Line

🍽️ Breakfast provided on a first come, first served basis!

📍May Lee Complex, 651 Bannon St

⏰ 6:30 AM Sign In Begins!

✊ 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM Strike Line

🍽️ Breakfast provided on a first come, first served basis!

📍DMV HQ, 2415 1st Ave

⏰ 6:30 AM Sign In Begins!

✊ 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM Strike Line

🍽️ Breakfast provided on a first come, first served basis!

📍CNRA Building, 715 P St

⏰ 6:30 AM Sign In Begins!

✊ 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM Strike Line

🍽️ Breakfast provided on a first come, first served basis!

📍CDE HQ, 1430 N St

⏰ 6:30 AM Sign In Begins!

✊ 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM Strike Line

🍽️ Breakfast provided on a first come, first served basis!

PHASE TWO

CalHR Rally & March

📍1810 16th St, Sacramento, CA 95811

⏰ 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Strike Line

✊ 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM Programming featuring special guest speakers

📣 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Strike Line marches to the Capitol Annex Swing Space

🍽️ Lunch provided on a first come, first served basis!

Oakland

📍Elihu M Harris State Building, 1515 Clay St

⏰ 6:30 AM Sign In Begins!

✊ 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Strike Line featuring programming from special guest speakers

🍽️ Breakfast and lunch provided on a first come, first served basis!

San Francisco

📍Public Utilities Commission HQ, 505 Van Ness Ave

⏰ 6:30 AM Sign In Begins!

✊ 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Strike Line featuring programming from special guest speakers

🍽️ Breakfast and lunch provided on a first come, first served basis!

Fresno

📍Fresno State Building, 1085 P St

⏰ 6:30 AM Sign In Begins!

✊ 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Strike Line featuring programming from special guest speakers

🍽️ Breakfast and lunch provided on a first come, first served basis!

Los Angeles

📍Ronald Reagan State Building, 300 S Spring St

⏰ 6:30 AM Sign In Begins!

✊ 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Strike Line featuring programming from special guest speakers

🍽️ Breakfast and lunch provided on a first come, first served basis!

Norwalk

📍Metro State Hospital, 11401 Bloomfield Ave

⏰ 6:30 AM Sign In Begins!

✊ 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Strike Line featuring programming from special guest speakers

🍽️ Breakfast and lunch provided on a first come, first served basis!

San Bernardino

📍Rosa Parks Memorial Building, 464 W 4th St

⏰ 6:30 AM Sign In Begins!

✊ 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Strike Line featuring programming from special guest speakers

🍽️ Breakfast and lunch provided on a first come, first served basis!

San Diego

📍Mission Valley State Building, 7575 Metropolitan Dr

⏰ 6:30 AM Sign In Begins!

✊ 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Strike Line featuring programming from special guest speakers

🍽️ Breakfast and lunch provided on a first come, first served basis!

Strike Frequently Asked Questions

When are we going on strike?

Our Unfair Practice Strike will take place Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

How long will the strike last?

This will be a one-day strike on Wednesday, October 21 and if you do participate, you will not report to work that day.

Can my job be impacted if I go on strike?

A lawful Unfair Practice Strike is protected concerted activity, and management may not lawfully retaliate against employees for protected participation. Contact the Union immediately if you receive any threat, discipline, or notice related to strike activity.

Will I get paid during a strike? Can I use my vacation or sick leave?

Workers are not eligible to receive pay, leave or unemployment for a strike action. While Local 1000 has a strike fund, those funds will never be sufficient to replace worker wage levels. Members should know that going on strike is powerful, but it requires sacrifice, and members should think about that and plan ahead.

Do we have a strike fund?

Yes. SEIU Local 1000 has a strike fund, but it’s important to understand that the strike fund is not intended to replace workers’ wages during a strike. Going on strike is a financial sacrifice, and members should think about that and plan ahead.

What is the strike fund used for if it doesn’t cover our wages?

Our strike fund can help cover strike-related expenses, including legal costs if members face retaliation or other consequences for participating in a lawful strike. The fund is not intended to replace members’ regular wages while they are on strike.

Can I go on strike if I’m an essential worker?

Our Union will tell members if any employees or positions are excluded from participation, but you can assume you’re eligible to participate unless you’re told otherwise. There is a difference between being “essential” in the everyday or even in a “pandemic” sense and being legally excluded from a strike. Only employees or positions whose absence for the particular day or days of the strike would create an imminent and substantial threat to public health or safety may be designated as an essential employee during a strike. If any employees/positions are determined to be excluded from a strike, those workers will be notified directly.

Can I strike if I'm still on probation or a temporary employee?

Yes. Probationary and temporary employees have the same legal right to participate in a lawful unfair practice strike as permanent employees. If there are clear instances of unlawful retaliation because you exercised your rights, the Union will fight to protect your rights under the contract or at PERB. That said, we understand that being on probation can make participating feel especially intimidating. Remember that there are many ways to be involved. You can attend statewide and worksite actions, help organize your coworkers, join our CAT Team and build support in your worksite. Every action helps strengthen our union.

Will our pension, retirement, or medical benefits be affected if we go on strike?

Striking is legally protected and does not result in a break in benefits coverage. There would be no impact to your pension or other post-employment benefits because of our Union going on strike.

Do you have flyers we can post in our office?

Yes! Click this link to download and print flyers to distribute at your worksite!

What happens after we strike? What are we hoping will happen?
Any strike will be historic. California has never seen a strike this large involving the workers who keep the state running. The Newsom administration can prevent this by coming to the table and bargaining in good faith. Administrations may change, but our demand will not: bargain fairly with the workers who keep California running.
Do we need to call in to work on Strike Day to let our manager know that we're striking?

Individual members are not required to give notice to their employer in order to participate in a strike. Our union will clearly communicate any planned strike with the State prior to any action taking place.

For those with mobility limitations who can't stand or march for hours at a picket, will there be any accommodations for us to participate in pickets if there's a strike?

We want all members to be able to participate, including members with disabilities or physical limitations. We’ll provide more information about strike activities and options for participation as plans are finalized.

Can employees on State travel participate in a strike?
  • Employees who are on previously authorized State travel and who are not designated as essential/line-pass employees may participate in the strike. They should notify their supervisor that they will not perform work during the strike period, but should not independently cancel or alter State-paid travel arrangements or assume State travel expenses personally.
  • If the authorized travel began before the strike and continues after the strike day, employees should not be expected to absorb hotel, rental-car, airfare, parking, rebooking, or other travel costs that result from the State-authorized trip. Any changes to lodging, rental cars, airfare, or the travel itinerary should be directed by the department. Employees should retain receipts and documentation.
  • Employees who are striking should not perform incidental work on the strike day—such as checking email, attending meetings or training, driving to a work event, or performing other job duties—simply because they are already on travel. They should generally be treated as striking for that day, subject only to necessary travel logistics and reasonable directions concerning State property or the itinerary.
  • Employees should not expect to claim meals or per diem for the strike day itself, because they are not performing work that day. That does not mean they become responsible for the underlying State travel costs created by an authorized trip that began before the strike and continues afterward.

Picket Line Do’s and Don’ts

Stay informed. Stay safe. Stay united.

Knowing the do’s and don’ts of a picket line helps us look out for one another and show up prepared. We’re more powerful when we stand together, stay aligned, and know how to protect ourselves and our fellow members. Let’s get ready to hold the line!

💬 Our Core Messages

UNFAIR PRACTICE STRIKE
The purpose of our Unfair Practice Strike is to demonstrate that state workers are united in demanding that the State return to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith toward a fair Contract.

FAIR CONTRACT NOW
Our contract expired on June 30. The Newsom administration waited until the last minute to reject our proposals in bulk. Now, SEIU Local 1000 members have been without a contract for over three months. Enough is enough!

RESPECT STATE WORKERS
SEIU Local 1000 represents over 100,000 state workers across California. We are nurses, educators, IT professionals, analysts, printers, custodians and so much more. Our members work across every state department and we’re asking for a contract that respects the work we do to keep California running.

SIGN THE STRIKE COMMITMENT FORM

We understand that not everyone will be able to join us on the strike line. If you cannot participate, we still encourage you to show your support by signing the Strike Commitment Form and committing to stand with your coworkers, whether that means attending a local worksite action or not reporting to work on Oct 21 in solidarity.

Show Your Solidarity!

Purple Up with our Zoom backgrounds for desktop and mobile. Just click, download, and set!

Desktop Backgrounds

Mobile Backgrounds – Zoom

Mobile Backgrounds – General

Email Signature

Adding a message of support leading up to our strike is an easy way to let everyone know we’re standing together.

  1. Copy your favorite strike support message and image provided below.
  2. Find the “Signature” section in your email settings.
  3. Paste the message and image into your signature and save your changes.
  4. Now, every email you send shows that you’re standing with our union!

I Voted for an Unfair Practice Strike.

OR

I Stand With SEIU Local 1000.

OR

I’m Ready to Strike for Fair Bargaining.

Out Of Office Message – Strike Day!

Be sure to update your out-of-office message on October 21 to let everyone know that you’re out striking with our union.

I am currently away from work participating in SEIU Local 1000’s Unfair Practice Strike to demand fair bargaining. I will respond when I return. Please show your support by joining one of our picket lines: seiu1000.org/2026contract-events/