加利福尼亚州政府雇员将于周三发起一天罢工，敦促加州州长加文·纽森的政府同意一项新合同，提高员工薪酬，确保负担得起的医疗保健服务，并允许更多远程办公的灵活性。
SOPHIE AUSTIN SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California state workers will launch a one-day strike Wednesday, urging Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration to agree to a new contract that increases workers’ pay, ensures affordable healthcare access and allows more flexibility for remote work.
SEIU地方1000分会是加州政府雇员中最大的工会，代表超过10万名员工，包括审计师、护士和咨询师，将在全州各城市举行纠察，这是该工会自2004年成立以来首次举行此类行动。工会成员本月早些时候压倒性投票授权罢工，指责州政府在合同于6月到期后未能诚意谈判。
SEIU Local 1000, the largest union for California government workers which represents more than 100,000 employees, including auditors, nurses and counselors, will picket in cities across the state for the first time since the union’s founding in 2004. Members overwhelmingly voted to authorize the strike earlier this month, accusing the state of failing to bargain in good faith after their contract expired in June.
“我们发起罢工，是因为我们知道纽森政府能够并且必须做得更好，”工会主席阿妮卡·沃尔斯在一份声明中表示。“他们必须回到谈判桌前，诚意谈判达成一份合同，让州政府雇员能够负担得起杂货、托儿、房租和其他必需品。”罢工发生在纽森下令州政府雇员于7月1日前每周四天返岗办公之后。纽森正准备于1月卸任，并瞄准2028年总统竞选，他辩称该命令将改善工作场所协作与创新，从而帮助政府更好地服务公众。
“We are going on strike because we know the Newsom administration can and must do better,” Anica Walls, the union’s president, said in a statement. “They must return to the table and bargain in good faith toward a contract that allows state workers to afford groceries, childcare, rent and other necessities.”The strike follows an order by Newsom requiring state workers to return to the office four days a week by July 1. Newsom, who’s preparing to leave office in January and eyeing a 2028 presidential run, argued the mandate would improve workplace collaboration and innovation, which will help government better serve the public.
他上个月否决了一项工会支持的法案，该法案本应要求州政府机构为要求员工返岗办公提供书面理由。
He vetoed a bill backed by the union last month that would have required state agencies to provide a written justification for requiring workers to report to the office.
加州人力资源部表示，正与工会及各州政府部门协调，这些部门已制定应急计划，以防罢工扰乱政府运作。
The California Department of Human Resources said it was coordinating with the union and with state departments, which have contingency plans in case government operations are disrupted by the strike.
“该部门仍致力于达成公平且负责任的协议，并继续在谈判桌前随时待命，”该部门在一份声明中表示。
“The department remains focused on achieving a fair and responsible agreement and continues to be available at the bargaining table,” it said in a statement.
工会认为，远程办公可为州政府节省本应用于办公空间的开支，并改善人们的工作与生活平衡。
The union argues remote work saves the state money it would otherwise spend on office space and improves people’s work-life balance.
工会还推动州政府在未来三年内将工人的薪资提高20%，并增加州政府对员工医疗费用的补助。
The union is also pushing for the state to raise workers’ salaries by 20% over the next three years and increase the state contribution toward employees’ healthcare costs.