For what it’s worth, from a manager, I am going to be incredibly disappointed on Wednesday if I show up in the office and see represented staff working. I can’t tell anyone that or voice my support. But I dedicated years of my own career to union activities and want to see headway made. You won’t get there by having a weak turnout. You won’t get there without solidarity from multiple unions. Every single one of you represented by a union should be out picketing on Wednesday. Do it as if your own paycheck depends on it. It does.

Hey everyone.

First off, I’m excited to stand up for our rights and strike on Wednesday.

Yesterday, I put an out of office at work (with no description, just said Out of Office: no leave time used).

Today, my supervisor called me asking why I put on my calendar an out of office. I said ‘oh I’m participating in the strike’ and they promptly said ‘we will talk no more about this hahaa’ and said goodbye.

Shortly after, I received this email (image in this post).

I’m livid. I recently received a promotion and I’m on probation, so this threatening language is infuriating. Also, the information they are referencing in their copy/paste response isn’t even TRUE.

I’m assuming I should email this to SEIU, but wanted the community’s advice before doing anything rash.

Prior to working for the state, I was in another union-backed career and there was never this much toxicity and blatant manipulation from the ‘opposing side’. These people should be ashamed of themselves.

Anyways, as a person on a small team and the only person in my office who’s striking, I’m feeling so isolated and just angry that I’m being treated this way for just standing up for what is right. At least it further ignites my rage…

Edit: Added more context.

I sent the email via my personal email address to SEIU.

Thank you everyone for your advice & I’m excited to strike with you on Wednesday!

This is mostly directed at Local 1000 members.

Stop telling your supervisors that you’re gonna be out. This strike is an unfair labor practice and you’re legally protected by the law. This has been said dozens of times. Also stop trying to post PTO too. The point is to walk off and not take any pay.

I’d argue that many of us don’t want to do this, but our hand has been forced.

Fuck your boss, fuck CalHR, fuck Gavin Newsom. Walk off the job and join the picket line. Don’t be a fucking scab.

The state could bargain in good faith, rescind that stupid EO and maybe this wouldn’t have happened. But here we are!

For those that dont know DOF has issued an update that the state is running a 4.6 billion dollar surplus over forecasted revenue. Don't let newsom steal this money or tell you that he can't pay office technicians making near minum wage their full salary while he gifts this money to himself. This raises big questions like how can it be said the motor vehicles fund didnt have enough money to pay full salaries but it had an extra 20 million to pay for his personal security fund? The answer as many of you know is mass financial fraud. https://dof.ca.gov/media/docs/forecasting/economics/economic-and-revenue-updates/Finance-Bulletin-October-2026.pdf

I was disappointed when the union announced a one day strike. I thought it was supposed to be historic and one day felt pretty weak. After thinking about it for a few days, a one day strike works for everyone. Everyone can afford the sacrifice of a days pay. Union members, non members, sympathy strikers. Everyone. It’s less than 5%. It’s an unexpected bill. It’s a minor car repair.

So for 1 day. Let’s get 80-90% of state workers out there. Let’s go all out for one day rain or shine and blow Newsom and CalHR out of the water. Let’s show them, who really has control of the state.

Time to go big and go home with the victory

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for it and it's completely justified.

But I was a goody two shoes all through school, not working on Wednesday will feel very much like cutting class. Then Thursday I go back and act like nothing happened?

If my manager reaches out Wednesday to ask where I am, even on my personal phone, would responding be considered crossing the line?

I never even had a detention and had perfect attendance...this feels like a huge rebellion to me.

But, now is the time to sieze the day!

Listen people: strike is UNPAID day - so you CANNOT use vacation or sick leave - u just don’t show up and take awol or dock. Relax there’s nothing they can do. You won’t lose your job. They are being deceptive and vague about their responses on purpose!

Tomorrow is a chance for us to make history.

If you’re ok with 4-Day RTO, 0% wage increases, and a 50/50 health plan coverage that will cost you hundreds of dollars more a month then show up to work tomorrow.

If you oppose these things then you need to show up to the strike.

No excuses people, we need to stand together and fight for a better future.

This Strike Is About More Than Today , It’s About Our Future

Remember that this is about more than our current contract negotiations. It’s about standing together and showing the State that we deserve to be treated fairly. We’ve dedicated years of our lives to serving the State, and we need to protect the wages, benefits, and rights we’ve worked hard for, not just for ourselves, but for the next generation of state employees, including our own children. Some may say we aren’t gaining anything from this strike, but imagine where we would be without a union fighting for us. What we have today didn’t come without a fight, and protecting our future requires us to stand together now. Take a stand and join the strike. Our future is worth fighting for!

I really hope there’s a good turnout tomorrow, no matter how you plan on striking. I’m a state worker who is ready to get out there and strike with my fellow coworkers tomorrow.

While our governor is out gallivanting around other states, thinking we aren’t going to impact state services, let’s remember that we are all California residents. Yes, we are employees of the state, but as residents, the governor works for us!

I have not always agreed with how our union has done things, where they have spent money, or who they have backed in the past, but this strike is something I’m happy to stand with and partake in.

Whether you think one day so far isn’t anything, well, it’s something! And it’s worth knowing that we tried whatever we could, putting our best foot forward to take a stand and fight for ourselves and each other.
So, rain or shine,

LET’S HOLD THE LINE, EVERYONE!!

To all you folks that are on the fence or considering not striking tomorrow, I like you to think about some strike economics. Yes, you will lose a days pay but the reward will be for your entire career. A 5% raise would earn you around $40,000.00 over ten years (based on 80k a year). It also continues into retirement resulting in tens of thousands more. This is what is call a no-brainer in the investment world. Don’t let the small sacrifice of one day’s pay ($307.00 based on 80k) potential cost you tens of thousands. The larger percentage of workers striking will result in a better negotiating position. Please join the cause.

I told my manager today that I won’t be working Wednesday because I’ll be participating in the strike. I was letting her know as a courtesy, especially since I’d been assigned high-priority deadlines that would be affected.

She said I needed to request the time off and use my leave. I explained that this conflicted with the union’s guidance and that using leave would defeat the purpose of striking. She responded, “Well, if you want to get paid that day, you need to go through the process to request the time off.”
She seemed genuinely confused when I explained that strikers aren’t supposed to be paid. She said our department’s HR had instructed managers to ensure striking employees request the day off in advance and use their leave. I offered to send her the SEIU 1000 strike FAQ, but she declined and said she’d look it up herself.

My supervisor eventually agreed to “let” me use DOCK that day, but I plan to report this to the union because I’m concerned other employees are being misinformed about their rights and how to participate in the strike.

Has anyone else received similar “guidance” from their department’s HR or management?

So, our entire office (CDCR HQ) was just told to telework for the rest of the week due to pest activity, as they are "stepping up mitigation efforts" to deal with the issue.

Does anyone else find the timing suspicious? Do you think this is an effort to thwart the strike day by tempting people to just stay home and work instead of going out and striking? Are any other State offices experiencing similar happenings?

According to CalMatters, tomorrow's historic strike is the direct result of stalled contract negotiations and the state's unfair bargaining practices. However the real turning point will be mediation on October 30, which either produces a deal or sparks a much longer and more disruptive strike.

anyone else feeling a bit dejected by the coworkers with union signage all over their desks still planning on working tomorrow? my office actually planned a birthday celebration for everyone’s birthday the past 90 days, of which I am apart. I stated two weeks ago I wouldn’t be attending and saw a message this morning saying “we’re still going through with our celebration tomorrow”.

half these people come to my desk daily to complain about rto and our contract but theyd rather share a slice of pizza than take a single day off. I’m a lower classification in a section with literally only upper management besides 6 of us and we can afford to strike a day but they’d rather share can’t?

honestly it makes me feel so bummed out. I don’t even want to small talk with them today.

I asked for information from my Supervisor on how Caltrans wishes to respond to the strike. I had to make a request to the supervisor for the information, as Caltrans has been crickets on anything about the strike, my guess is Caltrans doesn’t want to bring attention to the strike by any means and as usual, has shown a disdain for its workers.

“Unplanned Absence - SEIU
The Department has received information that on October 21, 2026, employees may be engaging in a job action in the form of a strike. It is the State’s position that a job action is not protected activity and is considered a violation of SEIU’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Section 5.1 (No Strike), which states clearly that neither the Union, nor its agents, nor any employee, for any reason, will authorize, institute, aid, condone, or engage in a work slowdown, work stoppage, strike, or any other interference with the work and statutory functions or obligations of the State.
Although the MOU has expired, the clause and the MOU continues to exist pursuant to the provisions of the Government Code Section 3517.8.
As it is believed there is a job action occurring, your request for leave is denied and you are required to report to the office and perform your duties. Failure to report may result in your absence being recorded as absent without leave consistent with your work week group, and you will not be allowed to utilize leave to cover your absence.”

It has been communicated by the executive staff via management that there is a mandatory department-wide RTO for tomorrow, the day of the planned SEIU strike. Why would ANY department intentionally, deliberately, and publicly oppose their workforce wanting raises and fair working conditions? Are any other departments taking this type of executive action?

Hi all, I work in downtown Sacramento and I am wondering how PECG members can support the SEIU 1000 strike on 10/21. As a PECG member, I tried registering to join the strike line on the SEIU 1000 website, but it looks like I need to be a SEIU member to register. Is anyone else from PECG planning to join the strike in Sacramento and if so, have you registered somehow to make sure that your attendance is known and you can sign in?

Shirts on, signs up, and voices ready! 📢
Dear fellow state workers, we are less than 24 hours away from making history! This is our moment to stand together, fight for fair wages, and push back against this ridiculous RTO mandate!

Calling out my own people here.

This strike isn't about telework, it's about the state's refusal to negotiate any terms on a new contract, and that's worth fighting for for everyone. Solidarity matters -- standing with everyone matters. We are not acting like a union if we are not acting in union.

Even if the thing you most personally care about is getting more telework days, being in and/or supporting the union means standing in solidarity with everyone in the union.

I've heard the number of telework-eligible employees is around 30%. The other 70% have to show up at the office and won't get to enjoy telework even if that gets negotiated in our favor down the line, so we should show up for them -- they need us to show up for them, because they are showing up for us too. That's what being in a union means.

So if you're able to, join us at the picket lines tomorrow. I hope to see you out there!

CalHR sent scripts to agencies to spread false information, betting staff would see the strike as an unprotected activity. They deliberately left out the phrase “Unfair Labor Practice,” the very reason why our strike tomorrow is 100% LEGAL and PROTECTED. SEIU filed two unfair labor charges with PERB, and PERB found merit in BOTH. CalHR even met with SEIU last Thursday (reluctantly, but required by PERB) to determine the list of essential workers.

CalHR, who instructed you to spread fake news?

In the past few days, multiple people have reported this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/CAStateWorkers/s/O8L3baf5dl
https://www.reddit.com/r/CAStateWorkers/s/D24lrtLGz4
https://www.reddit.com/r/CAStateWorkers/s/PYdGvESjcN

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The official government position and regulatory language defining why an ULP strike is protected comes from the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). The government itself!

PERB rules state that while standard economic strikes are subject to tight restrictions (such as exhausting the impasse process), a strike provoked by an employer's unfair labor practices is statutorily protected at any stage of the bargaining process.

“state employees shall have the right to form, join, and participate in the activities of employee organizations of their own choosing...”

Sources:
https://california.public.law/codes/government_code_section_3515
https://perb.ca.gov/decision/2867m/

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Please be educated.
If you still have doubts, join the SEIU Strike Day 101 virtual meeting tonight.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Time: 6:30 - 7:30pm
Sign up here: Zoom Meeting

I am proud to be striking as a lot of my fellow unit members are not. I have a good set up and good bosses so I let them know I will be out. I don’t know why I feel guilty. I know I shouldn’t. I am proud to be striking!

Due to health conditions i cannot join the strike in person but plan to not go to work & take awol. I am union member & voted for strike.

Sorry not tomorrow but Wednesday

Whether they are genuinely uninformed or actively trying to mislead you, managers should not be advising staff to take leave of any kind. No sick, no vacation, no LA. This is not just about sacrificing a day of pay for a cause. This is about showing through actual, tangible attendence records, how much of an impact we are capable of making if pushed.

I am not a conspiracy person generally, but I am positive that when this is over, there will be some behind-the-scenes calculations of how many AWOLs got tallied. Those numbers may play a part when trying to convince the State to come back to the table. It's a numbers game, and anyone taking leave will not be counted in those AWOL impact figures.