California’s Largest State-Worker Union Announces Strike-Authorization Vote

SEIU Local 1000 said members will vote on authorizing a strike over alleged unfair bargaining by California’s Department of Human Resources. The union represents roughly 100,000 state employees, and its three-year contract expired June 30. It filed an unfair-practice charge July 22 and is seeking a 20% general salary increase over three years, higher state health-care contributions and telework rules tied to operational needs. A majority of participating members must approve authorization, which would empower union leaders to call a strike but would not itself begin one. Sources differ on whether voting began Monday or starts September 9.