Thousands of state workers took to the streets of Sacramento on Wednesday as a part of the largest state worker strike in California’s history.

SEIU Local 1000, which represents more than 100,000 state workers, launched a one-day statewide strike after contract negotiations between the union and the state stalled. The union has been without a contract since June.

Workers set up picket lines at locations across Sacramento, including the offices of the California Department of Education, the California Natural Resources Agency and the Department of Motor Vehicles. They also picketed elsewhere in state, including Oakland, Fresno and Los Angeles.

In Sacramento, workers gathered at picket locations and then marched together towards the Capitol Annex Swing Space while yelling chants and holding signs.

SEIU Local 1000 members march down P Street in Sacramento during a statewide one-day California state worker strike on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. SEIU Local 1000 members march down P Street in Sacramento during a statewide one-day California state worker strike on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com Members of SEIU Local 1000 strike at the California DMV headquarters in Sacramento on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. Members of SEIU Local 1000 strike at the California DMV headquarters in Sacramento on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com SEIU 1000 members march down P Street during a strike in Sacramento on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. SEIU 1000 members march down P Street during a strike in Sacramento on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com Araceli Ramos, an SEIU Local 1000 member, participates in a one-day California state workers strike near the DMV headquarters on Broadway on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. Araceli Ramos, an SEIU Local 1000 member, participates in a one-day California state workers strike near the DMV headquarters on Broadway on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com SEIU 1000 members march down P Street during a strike in Sacramento on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. SEIU 1000 members march down P Street during a strike in Sacramento on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com SEIU Local 1000 members participate in a one-day California state workers strike near the DMV headquarters on Broadway on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. SEIU Local 1000 members participate in a one-day California state workers strike near the DMV headquarters on Broadway on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com Suzette Veneti joins the picket lines as SEIU 1000 members strike outside the California Department of Education Headquarters in Sacramento on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. Suzette Veneti joins the picket lines as SEIU 1000 members strike outside the California Department of Education Headquarters in Sacramento on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com SEIU 1000 members strike outside the California Department of Education Headquarters in Sacramento on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. SEIU 1000 members strike outside the California Department of Education Headquarters in Sacramento on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com SEIU 1000 members strike outside the California Department of Education Headquarters in Sacramento on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. SEIU 1000 members strike outside the California Department of Education Headquarters in Sacramento on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com SEIU 1000 members strike outside the California Department of Education Headquarters in Sacramento on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. SEIU 1000 members strike outside the California Department of Education Headquarters in Sacramento on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
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Hannah Ruhoff

The Sacramento Bee

Hannah Ruhoff is the assistant visuals editor at The Sacramento Bee. Previously, she was a visual journalist at another McClatchy property, the Sun Herald in Biloxi, Miss. She is an Ohio University alumna and native of Shaker Heights, Ohio.


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Hector Amezcua

The Sacramento Bee

Hector Amezcua is an award-winning visual journalist for The Sacramento Bee. Fluent in Spanish, he is a Fresno State graduate in journalism and Chicano studies. He has worked for McClatchy since 1992, taking pictures at all three Bee newsrooms in California.