California state employees walked off the job Wednesday, Oct. 21, in a one-day strike that could delay services at the Folsom DMV. The walkout by SEIU Local 1000 members also threatens operations at local Employment Development Department (EDD) offices and state parks.

SEIU Local 1000, the union representing nearly 100,000 state workers across about 140 departments, called the strike after its contract with the state expired June 30 and negotiations stalled. It is the first strike in the union's history, according to ABC10.

Members authorized the strike with 96.2% support after what the union called bad-faith bargaining by Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration. California's Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) sided with the union, concluding that the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) bargained in bad faith, CalMatters reported.

The strike is a one-day action.

About 95,000 of the union's members are authorized to walk out. Sources differ on how many workers are excluded as essential: ABC10 reported roughly 5,000, while the Sacramento Bee reported PERB set the number at about 4,400 after partially granting CalHR's request. Essential workers include certain staff at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of State Hospitals.

What Folsom-area residents should know

The DMV and EDD said offices would remain open Wednesday but warned that hours and operations could be modified depending on the strike's impact, according to statements reported by ABC10. The Folsom DMV field office on East Bidwell Street handles licensing, testing, title transfers and registration.

California State Parks said it was making operational adjustments to keep parks open for visitors. Park rangers are not SEIU Local 1000 members, but other parks staff are, ABC10 reported.

CalFresh and EBT services face similar potential delays, CalMatters reported.

What the union wants

The union is pushing for a 20% general salary increase over three years: 7% in 2026, 7% in 2027 and 6% in 2028, according to KCRA. It also wants larger state contributions toward healthcare costs and more flexibility to work from home.

The remote-work dispute intensified after Newsom ordered state workers back to the office four days a week starting July 1. SEIU Local 1000 President Anica Walls told ABC10 the return-to-office mandate affects about 30,000 of the union's members.

Walls said in a statement that the Newsom administration "can and must do better" and must return to the table to bargain in good faith, the Associated Press reported.

State's response

CalHR said it remains focused on achieving a fair agreement and continues to be available at the bargaining table, according to ABC10. The agency tried to block the strike through PERB, arguing the union had not completed required mediation steps. PERB moved to deny that request, the Sacramento Bee reported.

Services are expected to resume normally Thursday, Oct. 22. Both sides are scheduled to meet for mediation talks Oct. 30, CalMatters reported.

"If the state continues not to bargain in good faith, I think our members have shown that they are ready and willing to escalate," Walls told ABC10.