Biggest Union Of California State Workers Planning Strike Vote

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- The biggest union representing state government workers is planning a strike vote next week.

SEIU Local 1000 has been negotiating with the state on a new contract, and leaders want more than the roughly 3-percent raise being offered by the Brown Administration.

The state's offer actually works out to about a 12-percent raise over 4 years, but would require state workers to pick up a bigger share of their retirement health care costs.

A vote to authorize a strike by the 95-thousand SEIU members would not necessarily lead to a walkout. Before anyone strikes, the union would have to declare an impasse and go through mediation.