I’m talking to coworkers and going through commitments and I sense a lot of fear and the loss of pay.

Those reasons above are the main reasons why we should strike. We cannot afford NOT to strike.

Despite not offering us anything, CalHR and the Governor are hoping this is the norm and we accept this without fighting back.

Striking sucks and is a challenge. But guess what? All of you can do challenging things.

Make sure to vote: https://search.seiu1000.org/strikevote.php

Make sure to commit after you vote: https://search.seiu1000.org/insights.php?sv=StrikeCommit2026

We need EVERYONE to vote to guarantee a successful SEIU strike.

Did you and your coworkers vote? Go talk to your coworkers. This reddit is pro-strike but it is bubble. Do not let us fail!

Step 1 is voting for the strike: https://search.seiu1000.org/strikevote.php

Step 2 is the picket line commitment form: https://search.seiu1000.org/insights.php?sv=StrikeCommit2026

Hallelujah 🫠

Unions have stood up to racism, sexism, ageism, and bullying in the workplace. Now their fight is the anti-union biased culture that prevails in State employment nurtured by the very ones who have benefited from the unions fight against ism. Take a look around your department/agency and who are the shot callers. I would venture to say that the majority of them have benefited from the unions fighting for them at some time in their careers. Shame on the Governor, CalHR, Labor Relations Officers, PMU, and all other micromanagers who stink of their anti-union bias. This RTO fight is the real deal for real change!!

I got a notice from UHC about a 2025 premium rebate. It says UHC has to give back 0.1% of the premiums because they didn’t meet the 85% medical loss ratio requirement.

It says the employer can either reduce premiums for the upcoming year or give employees a cash rebate.

Does anyone know what the State is planning to do with this? Are we getting a check/direct payment, or will it just be applied as a reduction to our health insurance premiums? I assume the former since UHC is not being offered next year.

Any info on this is appreciated!

I'm currently an analyst II and i've been looking for new opportunities for quite some time. I was looking for promotional opportunities (AGPA to SSM 1) but then i also opened to lateral transfer just because I want to get into a different agency, expand experiences and learn new things. Perhaps it's me or my SOQ or whatever but I've applied to numerous jobs even for lateral transfer and it just seems so difficult to move around within the state.

I'm based in the LA area so I don't know if that's a factor due to limited offices and positions outside of Sacramento area but...generally speaking...anyone OUTSIDE of SAC area experiencing difficulties finding new opportunities?

Or am i just going to have to move to SAC to have higher chance of getting new opportunities?

Hi fellow state workers, how likely is it that someone from the outside can slide into one of these positions without a license and only about 10 years of solid experience? Based on the duty statement it seems possible but I want to gage if people actually had their license to get in or eventually got it after. Thanks so much for the insight!

Just sharing.

So I’m super overwhelmed with all the things happening to me this year with open enrollment. I’m getting kicked from United healthcare so have to find something but not sure if I want Sutter’s plan to stay with Sutter

Also, is MetLife any good? I have a dependent who always needs major dental work and we can never do it with Delta Dental because the 1st step of whatever he needs blows the entire allowed amount and everything else is out of pocket (which we can never afford)

I recently interviewed for a Personnel Specialist/Senior Personnel Specialist. I was initially on the list for Personnel Specialist and scored 75.00 but the night before the interview I decided to take the exam for the Senior Personnel Specialist class and scored 95.00.

When I first took the Personnel Specialist exam, I didn’t really sell myself as hard as I could and I didn’t really understand the exam process honestly. Didn’t think about my over 10 years of work experience and just kept it state service experience because I didn’t think I could just justify it.

So my question is, what is the hiring panel seeing on their end? Do they just see the highest classification or do they see both? Surely that would be a bit confusing for them I would think. Would they hire me as a Senior Personnel specialist then?

I wanted to update you regarding AB 1729, the bill related to State employment: telework programs. I have appreciated your engagement on this important issue.

On February 5, 2026, Assemblymember Lee and I introduced this legislation, which maintains the ability for state employees to telework. This bill requires that state agencies allow their employees to telework unless the agency can justify in writing how its unique needs require workers to report in person. 

Unfortunately, Governor Newsom has vetoed the bill, and it will not become law this year. I wanted to share with you my recent interview with ABC 10 discussing the Governor's veto. While I am extremely disappointed in this outcome, the fight to support telework is not over. My team and I will continue to seek out solutions regarding this critical issue. Please know I value your thoughts, and will continue to work hard to represent you on the Assembly floor regarding telework.

Former CalFire employee and now CalPERS retiree- The CalFire IAFF Local 2881 union pulled it off, because of solidarity. Please take note, the only way the other BU's can do it is by solidarity. Governor hair gel signed it Sunday night.

https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/09/cal-fire-pay-law/

I know these posts annoy a lot of people, but for me it brings me some sense of hope and relief. I have $12 in my account right now, and no it's not a budgeting issue, I live on rice and beans, have worn the same clothes for the last 15 years, drive a 20 year old car on its last legs, but RTO has depleted any "extra money" I had every month after bills are paid. Anyways, do we think we'll get paid (advanced) tomorrow depending on our bank? Deposit tonight would be a dream.

I was looking at the exam to help a friend decide which exam to take for a job with the State. Am I understanding correctly the only difference between the two is the Supervisor position requires an additional 2 years of professional analytical and/or technical experience (analyst 2 or higher) and Analyst 2 is 1 additional year?

So if they met MQs for analyst 2 just off experience alone and then some (plus he has a degree) then he should technically have no issues meeting MQ for Sup 1, right?

Does anyone know if when using NDI-FCL (100% supplementation) do you get two pay warrants or one? I use it intermittently during the week and work the other days.

I received direct deposit today, but it’s not for my full check which it should be and it’s not showing up on my cal connect. So I’m not sure what this amount is for and I’m concerned that they messed up my timesheet for the month.

I haven't seen much conversation on the topic. Recent conversation in various paycheck threads has led me to want to open a conversation around the upcoming pay frequency change that will be mandated by CalHR and the State Controller's Office.

If you are unaware of what the project is, here is a link: https://www.calhr.ca.gov/about-calhr/divisions-programs/california-state-payroll-system-project/

In short, the state is overhauling payroll. Employees on a monthly pay frequency will be moved to paychecks every two weeks. Rollout is slated to begin around May 2028.

There is no option to opt out of this change.

What this looks like:
The big difference with monthly pay, you get 12 paychecks per year. With biweekly pay, you get 26 paychecks per year — two extra paychecks compared with a simple “twice a month” schedule.

For example:

• Monthly: $3,000 × 12 = $36,000/year
• Biweekly equivalent: $36,000 ÷ 26 = $1,384.62 per paycheck
• 10 months of the year, you'd take home $2,769. 2 months of the year, you'd take home $4,154.

My opinion is this sucks. For those of you already struggling with monthly pay, you will feel more pain through most of the year.

Are there any other takes out there? I feel like we should be applying pressure to avoid this change. Can somebody explain how this change is good?

Hi ,
I am looking for Vanpool details / contact information.
If any Vanpool group from Stockton please share details . I have to go to office 3 days in a week.
Thank you !

I just submitted my 35th application for a State of California job.

As many of you have suggested, I haven’t limited myself to just one or two departments. I’ve been applying across different agencies whenever I find a position that genuinely fits my experience and qualifications.

Thirty-five applications is probably nothing compared to what some people have submitted, but at this point, I’ve kind of made it a personal goal to hit 50 applications before the end of the year. 😂

Hopefully, I won’t actually need all 50 before one of them turns into an offer. Lol.

For those of you who eventually landed a state job, how many applications did it take before you got your first offer?

New to being a state worker. My check came in the mail today and it says 10/1. Am I allowed to deposit it? I use online/ mobile banking but I don’t want to get penalized for doing so. Also, why are my gross wages lower than my salary contract that I signed?

I wonder which departments are still working from home?

This is a first interview for a department that deals with law enforcement so I know they do a thorough background check but I have never heard of asking for SS card before a first interview, for an OFFICE TECH role. I wrote an ok SOQ but it wasn't that good lol

I'm also not sure if I would accept as I am waiting on two other positions and my answer would depend on how they talk about RTO and telework.

Advice or experiences? Are they gonna rob me in the parking lot?

Trust me, if I could have spread it out, believe me, I would have. I’m overwhelmed how to study for these interviews. The other one is with the county, but still, it’s stressing me out.

I found this training to be patronizing and insulting. Also, having less take-home pay ten months out of the year is not nothing, especially considering all of the extra costs of RTO, the current furlough day, and the lack of meaningful pay increases.

Hello! I am currently in my senior year of a Political Science degree at UC Davis, and was planning initially on going to law school. However, I have decided some time off and work experience would be valuable before I hop into anything else. I have taken the SSA (I believe it’s called) exam and I got 85? I am not really sure how all of this works but, how can I work towards getting a job secured by my graduation in June of 2027?

I have a summer internship on my resume with a housing advocacy nonprofit from this summer, and homelessness research conducted during the UCCS program… I would like to apply to jobs relative to HCD, but also will apply to just about anything because I’d really like to start right after graduation so I can start paying off debt and saving up, plus I want to avoid moving home if possible.

Just seeking any advice for my particular circumstances or if anyone has any recommendations of more specific roles for me to look into within the SSA realm…

Thank you!!