Newsom backtracks on return to office order for California workers amid union demands

(FOX40.COM) — California Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order for state employees to abandon remote work and return to the office by July 1 won’t be happening anytime soon.
• Video Above: SEIU protest Newsom’s order to return to the office

The change of heart comes after the state made an agreement with one of the nation’s largest unions, Service Employees International Union Local 1000, which delays Newsom’s order for at least a year.

“We’ve reached an agreement with the State that protects our raise, pauses the return to office order, and gives us a path to bargain again in 2026,” SEIU said in a statement. “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.”

SEIU was referring to a 3% increase in pay that was agreed to in 2023 and expected to go into effect on July 1.

“Through tough negotiations, we secured an agreement that defends what we won and limits the impact on workers,” SEIU said.

Before the new agreement was reached, Newsom expected all employees to work in the office at least four times a week beginning Tuesday.

“In-person work makes us all stronger — period,” Newsom said in March. “When we work together, collaboration improves, innovation thrives, and accountability increases. That means better service, better solutions, and better results for Californians, while still allowing flexibility.”

Besides a delay in returning to the office, SEIU negotiated to keep their 3% promised salary increase, a suspension in retiree health care costs, additional personal leave, and an increase in vacation and annual leave time.