UNHARMED THIS AFTERNOON. HE IS NOW BEING REUNITED WITH HIS FATHER. NOW TO A LIVE LOOK FROM OUR STATE CAPITOL. SEVERAL LAWS TOOK EFFECT TODAY ACROSS CALIFORNIA THAT INCLUDES GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM’S RETURN TO OFFICE MANDATE. STATE DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN LETTING MANY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES WORK REMOTELY EVER SINCE THE PANDEMIC, BUT NOW STATE WORKERS ARE REQUIRED TO WORK IN PERSON FOUR DAYS A WEEK, ON TOP OF THE FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE MANDATE, SOME WORKERS ARE NOW WAITING FOR A NEW CONTRACT WITH THE STATE, THE LARGEST UNION REPRESENTING STATE EMPLOYEES RALLIED TODAY AND KCRA 3’S CECIL HANNIBAL WAS THERE TO HEAR FROM THOSE WORKERS. THE SEIU LOCAL 1000, THE LARGEST UNION REPRESENTING STATE WORKERS, THE LARGEST RALLY IT’S SEEN IN THE PAST TEN YEARS. IT’S ALL OVER CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE STATE. AND A BIG PART OF WHAT THEY WANT IS TELEWORK OPTIONS FOR STATE EMPLOYEES. FROM THE WEST STEPS. TO THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA, THE LARGEST UNION REPRESENTING STATE WORKERS, RALLIED IN AND AROUND THE STATE CAPITOL. TODAY, WE’RE OUT HERE TO HOLD THE LINE AND TO SHOW THE GOVERNOR AND THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME WITH SOME MORE. I NEED YOU TO CONTINUE TALKING TO YOUR WORKERS. THE SEIU LOCAL 1000 SAYS ITS CONTRACT WITH THE STATE EXPIRED TUESDAY AFTER IT SAYS THE STATE FAILED TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH, LIVABLE PAY, RAISE, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE AND RETIREMENT SECURITY. RETURN TO OFFICE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY MATTERS TO OUR INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE, AND ADDING FUEL TO THE FIRE IS THE GOVERNOR’S RETURN TO OFFICE MANDATE TAKING EFFECT WEDNESDAY, FORCING AGENCIES TO BRING WORKERS BACK IN THE OFFICE AT LEAST FOUR DAYS A WEEK. WE’RE LOSING TALENT. WE’RE LOSING PEOPLE WITH CONFUSION. MORALE IS BAD, STEPHEN BOYD SAYS. IT’S UP TO EACH AGENCY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE MANDATE. HIS BUILDING WAS DESIGNED FOR HYBRID WORK, WHICH HE SAYS IS NOW CREATING PROBLEMS. WE HAVE PEOPLE SCRAMBLING TO CRAM PEOPLE INTO DESKS, SHARING SOMETIMES TWO, THREE PEOPLE IN A SINGLE CUBE. THESE ARE NOT CUSTOMER FACING POSITIONS TWO THREE PEOPLE, 2 OR 3 PEOPLE IN A CUBE, WHILE OTHERS SAY IT’S SUDDENLY MAKING WORKING FOR THE STATE MORE EXPENSIVE. THE COST OF GAS TO PARKING AND CHILD CARE. YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE CONGESTED HIGHWAYS. YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE ZERO PARKING LEFT IN SACRAMENTO. SO YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE CARS DRIVING AROUND, DRIVING AROUND, DRIVING AROUND, LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PARK, AND YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE A LOSS OF EMPLOYEES. THERE’S GOING TO BE A MASS EXODUS. AND THE LEAD NEGOTIATOR FOR THE UNION SAYS THEY STARTED NEGOTIATIONS BACK IN MAY AND TELLS KCRA THREE THE STATE WAITED UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE THE CONTRACT EXPIRED TO DECLINE EVERY PROVISION AND OFFERED NO SOLUTIONS. SO WE REACHED OUT TO CAL HR FOR RESPONSE. IN A STATEMENT, THE AGENCY SAID KELLY CHAR RESPECTS THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE BARGAINING PROCESS AND DOES NOT SPEAK ON ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS. KELLY REMAINS COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH WITH SEIU LOCAL 1000, AND WE’RE TOLD THEY GO BACK
California state workers union protests return-to-office mandate amid contract negotiations
California state workers protest return-to-office mandate
Updated: 8:05 PM PDT Jul 1, 2026
California state employees gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday to protest Gov. Gavin Newsom’s return-to-office mandate, which requires in-person work four days a week, as well as the expiration of their union’s contract. The SEIU Local 1000, the largest union representing state workers, organized the rally, which took place on the Capitol’s west steps and eventually moved inside the rotunda. “We’re out here to hold the line and to show the governor and the administration that they’re going to have to come with some more,” said Anica Walls, president of SEIU Local 1000. The union said its contract with the state expired Tuesday after the state failed to negotiate in good faith. Walls highlighted key issues for workers, including “livable pay raise, affordable healthcare, and retirement security.” She also noted that the return-to-office mandate is a significant concern, adding, “We have seen that we could save the taxpayers $225 million.” The mandate, which took effect Wednesday, has sparked frustration among workers.Steven Boyd, a state employee, said, “We’re losing talent, we’re losing people with confusion, morale is bad.”He explained that his building, designed for hybrid work, is now facing challenges.”We have people scrambling to cram people into desks, sharing sometimes two or three people in a single cube,” Boyd said. Other workers pointed to the financial burden of returning to in-person work, citing increased costs for gas, parking, and childcare.Antonio Medina, another state employee, said, “You’re going to have congested highways, you’re going to have zero parking left in Sacramento. You’re going to have a loss of employees, there’s going to be a mass exodus.” In a statement, CalHR said, “CalHR respects the confidentiality of the bargaining process and does not speak on ongoing negotiations. CalHR remains committed to continuing to negotiate in good faith with SEIU Local 1000.” See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
California state employees gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday to protest Gov. Gavin Newsom’s return-to-office mandate, which requires in-person work four days a week, as well as the expiration of their union’s contract.
The SEIU Local 1000, the largest union representing state workers, organized the rally, which took place on the Capitol’s west steps and eventually moved inside the rotunda.
“We’re out here to hold the line and to show the governor and the administration that they’re going to have to come with some more,” said Anica Walls, president of SEIU Local 1000.
The union said its contract with the state expired Tuesday after the state failed to negotiate in good faith. Walls highlighted key issues for workers, including “livable pay raise, affordable healthcare, and retirement security.” She also noted that the return-to-office mandate is a significant concern, adding, “We have seen that we could save the taxpayers $225 million.”
The mandate, which took effect Wednesday, has sparked frustration among workers.
Steven Boyd, a state employee, said, “We’re losing talent, we’re losing people with confusion, morale is bad.”
He explained that his building, designed for hybrid work, is now facing challenges.
“We have people scrambling to cram people into desks, sharing sometimes two or three people in a single cube,” Boyd said.
Other workers pointed to the financial burden of returning to in-person work, citing increased costs for gas, parking, and childcare.
Antonio Medina, another state employee, said, “You’re going to have congested highways, you’re going to have zero parking left in Sacramento. You’re going to have a loss of employees, there’s going to be a mass exodus.”
In a statement, CalHR said, “CalHR respects the confidentiality of the bargaining process and does not speak on ongoing negotiations. CalHR remains committed to continuing to negotiate in good faith with SEIU Local 1000.”
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel