Sacramento, California – Nearly 100,000 state workers in California will have their return-to-office mandate delayed for another year, under a new agreement between Governor Gavin Newsom and SEIU Local 1000, announced this Sunday.
Details of the New Agreement
The new deal applies to state employees represented by SEIU Local 1000, the state’s largest labor union. Under the previous mandate issued by Newsom earlier this year, all state workers were required to return to the office at least four days a week starting July 1, 2025.
However, this agreement extends the current remote work policy for SEIU Local 1000 members until July 1, 2026.
In addition to the delay, the agreement also protects a 3% pay raise that was negotiated in a 2023 contract, which is set to take effect this July 1. A second 3% raise will follow in July 2027.
The union praised the agreement, stating, “Through tough negotiations, we secured an agreement that defends what we won and limits the impact on workers,” after Newsom and the State Legislature initially sought to cancel the agreed-upon raises due to the state’s budget crisis.
Changes in Personal Leave Policy
The agreement also introduces a 3% personal leave program, set to take effect from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027. This program will reduce state employees’ take-home pay by 3%, but in exchange, workers will receive five hours of personal leave each month.
This leave can be used like vacation or annual leave and can even be cashed out. The union emphasized that during these two years, no additional furloughs or personal leave programs can be adopted.
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What’s Next?
While the agreement is in place for two years, both the state and the union can return to negotiations in 2026 to address any further changes.
This deal follows similar agreements made with unions representing state engineers and prison guards, signaling a broader push for flexibility in state employment policies amidst California’s budget challenges.
What are your thoughts on the delay of the return-to-office mandate for California state workers? How will this impact the state’s economy and employees moving forward? Let us know in the comments below! For more updates on California labor policies, visit ridgecrestpact.org.
