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State Workers Rally Largest in Decade; Judge Rejects Injunction

7/3/2026

35 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

State workers staged the largest rally in a decade at the Capitol to oppose Governor Gavin Newsom’s return-to-office order.
Newsom ordered 90,000 state employees to work in office at least four days a week.
An audit by Assemblymember Josh Hoover found the governor’s office did not assess needs or costs before the mandate.
A judge denied an injunction in the lawsuit alleging the policy violates the California Environmental Quality Act.

History

Historical Context

California’s 1978 Public Employee Labor Relations Act, part of the Civil Service Reform framework, granted state workers collective-bargaining rights, enabling the California State Employees Association to secure a $1.2 billion raise for about 45,000 employees in 1981. In 2024 Governor Gavin Newsom ordered 90,000 workers onsite four days a week, prompting a massive rally and Assemblymember Josh Hoover’s CEQA-focused audit.

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Story summary

State workers staged the largest rally in a decade at the Capitol to oppose Governor Gavin Newsom’s return-to-office order.
Newsom ordered 90,000 state employees to work in office at least four days a week.
An audit by Assemblymember Josh Hoover found the governor’s office did not assess needs or costs before the mandate.
A judge denied an injunction in the lawsuit alleging the policy violates the California Environmental Quality Act.

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