Corey Schmidt at The Sacramento Bee reports thousands of California State Workers are preparing for a planned one-day Strike. Now State Officials are trying to halt the walkout before it begins. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1000 called the Strike after 96.2% of voting Members approved the action, capping months of escalating tension. Contract negotiations have been strained since late July, when the Union filed an Unfair Bargaining Charge accusing the State of rejecting budget-related proposals at the last minute. Bargaining subsequently stalled for more than two months before a formal impasse was declared on October 2nd. Seeking to block the October 21st one-day Strike, the California Department of Human Resources has turned to the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), the State’s Public Labor Referee. State Officials contend the walkout is unlawful because the Union failed to exempt Employees deemed essential to public safety and is not properly engaging in mediations due to the call for a one-day Strike. When a Union goes on Strike, it generally meets with the State to discuss which Workers are essential for public safety and prohibited from walking out. SEIU Local 1000 and the State met - but didn’t come to an agreement.

For More On This Labor News Report, Go To: California looks to block state worker strike, asks labor agency to halt walkout

Photo Courtesy Of SEIU Local 1000’s Facebook Page.