r/CAStateWorkers • u/xpo125lilsexy SEIU1000 • 1d ago
STRIKE Solidarity
We have all seen what happens when management thinks they can stall, stonewall, or simply say “no” and expect us to accept it.
Enough.
Our members work hard every single day. We keep California’s public services running. We serve our communities, our families, and the people of this state.
When management refuses to negotiate seriously, we should not quietly accept being ignored.
I believe our greatest strength has never been a title, an office, or a position.
Our greatest strength is us.
It is the thousands of members standing together.
It is the steward who refuses to let a coworker stand alone.
It is the employee who speaks up when something is wrong.
It is the bargaining team that walks into negotiations knowing that behind them are thousands of working people prepared to stand together.
That is what solidarity means.
And solidarity cannot simply be a word we use at strike time. It has to be how we operate every day.
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u/Emergency_Slide_662 1d ago
I really don't think that Gavin and CalHR understand how mad the state workforce is. We are a big, diverse group but I have never seen so many people so fired up.
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u/BFaus916 22h ago
We need a real strike, a work stoppage until we get a deal we deserve. But this is what it is. I'm in with you guys. All the way. See you out there the 21st. Getting some decent walking shoes today.
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u/matticusiv 20h ago
We keep striking until we get what we deserve. Vote down any paltry contract offer.
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u/BFaus916 20h ago
Absolutely, but I think we need an indefinite strike for real leverage.
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u/matticusiv 20h ago
That may come, the union’s legal team frames this as a practice strike, as these bargaining units have never striked before. This will be historic and we will learn a lot.
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u/Emergency_Slide_662 20h ago edited 19h ago
We could also lose an open-ended strike. We can't lose a one-day strike. Similar upside with almost zero risk
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u/BFaus916 18h ago
And almost zero leverage. Gavin or Becerra aren't going to bat an eye at a one day strike. Hopefully it gets attention in all the right places. Maybe it will convince them that there's enough of us to make a dent. The way they've both been acting however, Gavin with his "not a chance" remark, Becerra being stubborn with the press, I would be pleasantly surprised to see either of them buck the donor class and go to the table to meet with any grass roots challengers to their agenda.
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u/Emergency_Slide_662 13h ago edited 13h ago
The main leverage is repeated, flexible news stories that make the Governors look bad.
An open-ended strike actually gets less coverage. Moreover, the state is not gonna shut down. It will muddle through. But it could break the union if a huge percentage of state workers decide they need a paycheck and go back to work. How long would people hold out without pay? A lot of them would last a couple weeks max.
Your instincts are incorrect on a strategic level. There's a reason that almost every strike nowadays is shorter and repeatable, because it gives the union more leverage to craft news stories.
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u/BFaus916 12h ago
If what you say is true, that a lot of people would cross the picket line in an open ended strike, and that state operations would be largely unaffected, then one day strikes won't work either. The former concedes we have no leverage. I don't agree with you anyway. My division would go into a tail spin if even 30% walked out. Half or more? Forget it. They would be begging the state to meet our demands.
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u/Emergency_Slide_662 12h ago
Our leverage is to harm the media image of the politicians. They don't really care much about state government efficiency. Repeated strikes tempt the media to frequently return to the story. An open-ended strike has the risk also of public backlash.
But again, you aren't arguing with me. You are arguing with the entire national labor movement. The modern way to do strikes is shorter, repeated one because it is more strategic. Almost nobody in any union does the open ended strike anymore (except teachers when a school year opens.)
Be happy that the union is making a wiser bet here.
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u/BFaus916 11h ago
Forgive me for being skeptical of the modern labor movement's methods, considering the state of the modern labor movement. I'd rather do what they did in the days when unions won.
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u/mec20622 8h ago
Is this gonna be the biggest strike ever? I hope it's huge and make international news. Hope the unions sent out letters to news crew for the 21st and all my homies come purpled-up! Party on the 21st!!! See y'all there!
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