nypost.com · Titus Wu · September 8, 2026
California union threatens strike in pay dispute with Gavin Newsom
# California union threatens strike in war over pay with Gavin Newsom administration
By
Titus Wu
Published Sep. 8, 2026, 1:46 p.m. PT
California’s largest state workers’ union is threatening to strike in a major escalation of an ongoing feud over wages, benefits and remote work with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration.
SEIU Local 1000, which represents 100,000 government employees, said at a L abor Day news conference that members will decide whether to authorize an unfair practice strike, with voting starting Wednesday and ending Oct. 7.
“We have never been on strike before,” said union president Anica Walls at the press conference.
“We got here today because the Newsom administration has refused to bargain in good faith,” she said.
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Samantha Toedter, left, and Kiley Janee Braud, right, join state workers protesting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s return-to-office policy during a rally organized by SEIU Local