State workers in Sacramento protest Gov. Gavin Newsom's return to office order
SACRAMENTO – Hundreds of state workers converged Wednesday in the rain in the first organized protest against California Gov. Gavin Newsom's return to office order.
Alex Leguizamo works for the Department of Education and opposes Newsom's return to office order. He brought a sign of Newsom sprawled out on a living room rug.
"He's very out of touch, I think the picture shows us how out of touch he really is," Leguizamo said.
The protest converged outside the California State Human Resources headquarters in Sacramento.
Charday Alcaraz works for child support services. The return to office order has her considering quitting her job.
"So when I took my job it was fully remote, 100% remote," Alcaraz said. "We'll see if I continue to work for my department to continue to work for the state but yeah, definitely puts that at risk."
Anica Walls is the Seiu Local 1000 president and says if state workers must go back to the office, they should get a 4% raise—the highest option in their contract agreement.
"We want to be protected, respected and paid," Walls said. "That four percent is absolutely necessary, this return to office mandate is a pay cut for our office workers, increased parking costs, increased gas."
Claremont McKenna Political Professor Jack Pitney says some voters will sympathize with state workers, others won't.
If Newsom has aspirations for a presidential run, this order could be part of his strategy.
"The return to work has been a theme of the Trump administration," Pitney said. "And in that context, one could see this as an effort to appeal to red state voters."
