Statement on July Paychecks
July 31, 2025
We’re aware that many members have questions about their most recent paychecks, including receiving two separate warrants and seeing unexpected variations in take-home pay.
SEIU Local 1000 is in contact with CalHR to better understand the issues some employees are experiencing. However, because paycheck processing can vary depending on your department and classification, we strongly encourage you to reach out to your direct supervisor or departmental HR office with any questions or concerns about your individual pay.
Read Updates Below
Sunday, June 29: Update
Bargaining Agreement Reached
We’ve reached an agreement with the State that protects your raise, pauses the return to office order, and gives us a path to bargain again in 2026.
Earlier this year, Governor Newsom and the State Legislature asked all unions to return to the table to address the state’s budget crisis. When they canceled our negotiated raise, SEIU Local 1000 pushed back. Through tough negotiations, we secured an agreement that defends what we won and limits the impact on workers.
Here’s what’s in the agreement:
Protected our 3% General Salary Increase (GSI), effective July 1, 2025
This raise was negotiated in our 2023 contract and applies across the board for all classifications and all units in SEIU Local 1000.
An additional 3% GSI for July 2026 (deferred to 2027)
We locked in a second across the board 3% raise. While it’s deferred to July 1, 2027, this protects our members’ future economic security. Securing this 3% GSI ensures that an additional GSI will be applied to our pension and overtime in 2027.
Return-to-Office (RTO) order paused through July 1, 2026
Departments must return to the telework agreements that were in place before March 2, 2025. In addition, departments are blocked from making any new RTO policy changes for the next 90 days. This is an important step in our continued fight for telework.
3% OPEB contributions will pause from August 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027
Starting August 1, 2025, member contributions to future retiree health care costs will be suspended for two years. This will boost take home pay starting with the September 2025 pay warrant and help offset the impact of PLP.
3% Personal Leave Program (PLP), from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027
To meet the Administration’s demand for cost savings, this agreement establishes PLP. It reduces take home pay by 3% but gives employees five hours of Personal Leave per month, which can be used just like vacation or annual leave, and can also be cashed out.
Vacation and Annual Leave cap increased to 760 hours
Effective July 1st, 2025, represented employees will be able to carry over a maximum of 760 hours of leave to the next calendar year compared to our previous cap of 640 hours.
No furloughs or additional PLPs during this agreement
The PLP above is the only leave reduction program permitted through June 30, 2027.
We retain the power to bargain again in 2026
Even with this two year agreement, we have the option to return to full bargaining in 2026. That means we will still fight for further raises and additional improvements for 2026. The fight for respect, fair pay, flexible telework and workplace rights will continue.
We’ve now concluded negotiations and finalized this agreement. We’ll share the full side letter shortly.
In the meantime, stay tuned and stay united.
SEIU Local 1000 Bargaining Team
Friday, June 27: Update
Proposal to CalHR
Today SEIU Local 1000 made a proposal to CalHR that ensures our members receive their 3% raise and language to halt the return-to-office (RTO) order on July 1st. Additional proposals to mitigate the Governor and Legislature’s cuts include language on employee contributions to OPEB and the Personal Leave Program (PLP).
“We do not believe that the solution to the current budget shortfall should include the attempt to strip salary increases that have already been ratified by our membership and passed by the California legislature. Doing so through trailer bill language is not the way.”
– Chief Negotiator Susan Rodriguez
CalHR provided our Union a counter proposal that we are reviewing with careful consideration. We are committed to working diligently to reach an agreement that will minimize the impacts of the Governor and the Legislature’s cuts to funding state employee compensation. We will keep our members updated with important developments.
Stay tuned and stay united!
Thursday, June 26: Update
Bargaining resumes June 27
In our current contract, state workers won a 3% raise set to take effect July 1. But earlier this year, the Governor proposed canceling that raise to help close the state’s budget deficit. What followed was a critical moment: would the state honor its commitment to fund our raise, or turn its back on the workers who keep California running? SEIU Local 1000 immediately began pushing back.
Where things stand now
We first began side letter discussions on Monday, June 9 with CalHR and suspended bargaining on Wednesday, June 11 after the Legislature announced it would fund our 3% raise. SEIU Local 1000 suspended bargaining to give the state Legislature the opportunity to do the right thing by honoring our contract and funding our 3% raise.
We are disappointed that, at the very last minute, the Legislature betrayed state workers by making a deal with the Governor to reduce employee compensation. This deal was anti-union and anti-state worker.
SEIU Local 1000 will now be going back to the table on Friday, June 27. While the State Legislature and the Governor have asked all unions to return to the bargaining table to find budget solutions for the 2025–2026 budget year, CalHR insists on pressuring our union into a concessionary 2-year side letter agreement with no raise next year – even though we will be in contract negotiations next year. This is not what was called for by the Legislature.
Why this fight goes beyond the table
This is why membership, COPE, and engagement are important. Members need to stand together and be unified. We have the opportunity to elect a pro-state worker Governor in 2026 – someone who will respect union contracts, stop attacking state workers, and work with us, not against us. That election will be here before we know it, and the work starts now.
More updates will be coming.
We’ll continue to keep you informed as bargaining resumes. In the coming days, you’ll hear more from us – by email, video, and at worksites – so you know exactly what’s happening at the table. Stay tuned, stay engaged, and stay union strong.
Wednesday, June 11: Update
The Local 1000 bargaining team has decided to suspend negotiations pending the outcome of the final state budget. Why? Because the State Legislature rejected the Governor’s plan to cancel our hard-earned 3% raise.
That’s no small move—it’s a powerful message: respect our existing contract. We bargained this raise. We ratified it. We earned it. And we won’t stand by while the State tries to take it away.
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Now, we must keep pushing. This is the moment to ramp up, not slow down. We need to show the Legislature that we’re watching—and that we’re ready to stand with them, for as long as they stand with us.
We’re also continuing to fight on all fronts—from the Capitol to the worksites—to defend what we’ve earned and build power for what’s ahead. That includes fighting back against the Governor’s unnecessary Return-to-Office mandate.
We’re pursuing every legal option—including an ongoing PERB charge—and keeping up the pressure through the notice process and on-the-ground organizing. Remember that when we raise our voices, we make real change.
Tuesday, June 10: Update
Yesterday, the State Legislature proposed rejecting the Governor’s plan to freeze our hard-earned 3% raise — a raise we bargained for, ratified and secured in our contract. This sends a powerful signal: respect union contracts, especially at a time when unions across the country are under attack.
This moment proves what we’ve always known—when we raise our collective voice, we make change happen. The Legislature heard us loud and clear, and now they’re standing with state workers.
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We’re grateful for their leadership and integrity. Now, it’s our turn to show up for them. We must keep the pressure on and make sure they know we’ve got their backs for doing the right thing.
Right now, bargaining is on hold while we ramp up our efforts to support the Legislature’s decision to stand with workers. We are taking every opportunity—on the job and through the political process—to make sure our voices are heard and our contracts are upheld.
At the same time, we’re winning important battles on telework. After weeks of member-led organizing and solidarity actions, the California Department of Education listened—and rejected the Governor’s 4-day return-to-office mandate. This shows that when we stand together and raise our voices, we force real change. Our fight continues with more legal steps and worksite actions ahead.
Monday, June 9: Update
At today’s negotiations with the State, Local 1000’s bargaining team made one thing very clear. We will not accept any proposal that doesn’t honor our July 3% raise. Our contract was ratified by our membership and passed by the California legislature. Any attempt to cancel our scheduled pay raise is misguided and unfair.
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And the legislature agrees. Earlier today, the California Assembly and Senate decided to stand with the working people of California and reject Governor Newsom’s attempt to suspend the July 1st GSI. They sent a clear message: The California legislature will not let the State balance the budget on the backs of state workers.
Governor Newsom still retains the power of the pen and could veto any budget line item he doesn’t like, including our 3 percent pay increase that’s already a part of our MOU.
But we have something just as powerful as Governor Newsom’s pen. We have the people. From Los Angeles to Sacramento to San Diego to Redding, state workers are standing strong.