Unions moan as California state workers ordered back into the office 4 days week

State employees are furious with California Gov. Gavin Newsom after ordering them to get off the couch and back into the office.

In a memo obtained by The Post sent to Cabinet Secretary Nani Coloretti, Newsom wrote that the  governor’s executive order mandates that workers who telework return to the office for at least four days per week, with just one day to telework, starting July 1.

“As you all know, CalHR last year negotiated agreements with the unions to delay the implementation of the Executive Order until July 1, 2026,” the memo read.

“Cabinet Secretaries should take all necessary steps to implement the Executive Order, effective July 1, 2026, with an expectation of working in the office or in the field 4 days per week.”

Last year, Newsom faced push back from unions over Executive Order N-22-25 and it’s happening again. Unions like SEIU Local 1000 — which represents nearly 100,000 state workers, and CAPS UAW, representing 6,000 scientific workers for the state — have blasted the governor over the move.

In a press release from SEIU Local 1000 — it wrote that “as the State refuses to bargain in good faith over changes to teleworking conditions, SEIU Local 1000 filed an Unfair Labor Practice Charge with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB).”

“SEIU Local 1000 remains committed to fighting for Telework that Works through bargaining, legislation, and statewide member organizing efforts.”

The union said in the unfair practice complaint that the RTO was a violation of the The Dills Act, which “requires the State to meet and confer in good faith over mandatory subjects of bargaining, including work location, schedules, and telework.”

The union claimed that the state has refused to bargain over the main issue which is whether “employees will be required to report to the workplace four days per week.”

CAPS UAW — blasted “Newsom’s harmful Return to Office mandate.”

The union slammed the executive order as “not based on fiscal responsibility” on its Instagram page.

The social media for the group is filled with videos about why the RTO is wrong. One clip said that “scientist in public health” are against this because they know “the risk that more cars on the road will pose to Californians.”

Another post said that work spaces need to be clean. “No roaches, No rats.”

Professional Engineers in California Government(PECG) — which represents 15,000 employees — announced its legal opposition to the RTO.

“We have been leading this fight from the beginning,” PECG Executive Director Ted Toppin said, “but we would welcome the opportunity to have a real discussion about the many benefits of telework flexibility with this Administration.”

“Telework absolutely supports the Administration’s objectives to cut state government costs, reduce carbon emission to address climate change, and ease congestion on our roadways.”

Other large unions in the state who opposed the move last year, like ACSS, CASE, and IUOE Local 39, have yet to react to the latest memo. Together the three represent more than 16,000 state workers.

The Post reached out to the various unions for further comment.

Newsom also stated that departments should’ve already planned for the additional workspace to allow the return of the workers.

“Ninety-eight percent of departments have sufficient space for all employees to return to the office 4 days per week.”

It also pointed out that there would be no excuses or allowance for any departments that claim they don’t have space.

“Not having sufficient space for all employees to be in the office at least 4 days will not excuse or delay a return to office to the maximum extent feasible.”

The Post reached out to the governor’s office about the complaint from the union. Roy Kennedy, Deputy Secretary of Communications and External Affairs, said that “the memo speaks for itself, and we are working toward a smooth transition for all telework‑eligible employees to return to the office four days per week on July 1.”

CalHR also issued a statement that it “does not comment on pending litigation. The State will review SEIU Local 1000’s filing and will respond as appropriate through the PERB process.”

Newsom first issued an order in 2024 requiring two days of in-person work, a policy that was later expanded to four days a week.