California State Workers Ready For a One-day Strike
Here are the morning’s top stories for Wednesday, October 21, 2026
- Workers at the DMV, unemployment offices and other state agencies represented by SEIU 100 have never gone on strike before. That’s expected to change today.
- One statewide ballot seeks to limit the environmental review process on some new projects. Environmental activists are concerned.
- One race in Bakersfield is drawing in some political heavyweights, including Bernie Sanders.
Tens of thousands of state government workers are expected to walk off the job today in a one-day strike that could affect services at the DMV, unemployment offices and more.
Members of SEIU Local 1000 are protesting what they argue are bad-faith bargaining practices by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration. The union has been negotiating a new labor agreement since its latest three-year contract expired on June 30, and the strike would be Local 1000’s first statewide walkout in its 44-year history.
The union represents about 100,000 public workers, with members employed in dozens of agencies across California. They’re accountants, government analysts, nurses, IT workers, custodians and more.
For years now, state lawmakers have wanted to change the California Environmental Quality Act, also known as CEQA, to fast-track housing and energy projects.
Prop. 45 doesn’t get rid of environmental review, but it would impose a 365-day limit on those reviews and limit public comment to just 45 days.
The measure would only apply to projects the state deems essential. That includes infrastructure like roads and bridges, as well as housing, hospitals, broadband and schools.
Supporters say the prop would speed up critical infrastructure projects and reduce costs for taxpayers and consumers.
Opponents fear it could let projects that are harmful to the environment get built without public input.
Bakersfield is not usually a destination for big political names – except when former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was still in Congress. But this year’s midterm election has changed that.
California’s 22nd congressional district, which covers parts of five San Joaquin Valley counties, has become one of the most hotly contested congressional seats in the country.
Some big names have shown up at recent campaign events, where voters are deciding who to support in the race.