Tens of thousands of California state workers walked off the job Wednesday in an unprecedented one-day strike, paralyzing the DMV and unemployment offices that taxpayers are forced to rely on — while the union demands bigger paychecks and the right to stay home.
SEIU Local 1000, which represents roughly 100,000 public employees, launched its first-ever strike after 96.2% of voting members authorized the walkout. The union's contract expired June 30, and negotiators have been deadlocked with Governor Gavin Newsom's administration over wages, benefits, and remote work ever since.
The stakes are straightforward for ordinary Californians: driver's licenses, unemployment checks, and disability insurance all face delays. Union president Anica Walls urged residents to
