Our Raises, Our Rights - Join an August 5, 2026 Workplace Action

Scientist workers all over the State will hold actions to demand California honor the CAPS-UAW contract regarding the July 2026 salary increases, and respect State Workers’ telework rights. You can find a location near you to participate here.

On Wednesday, August 5, at 12PM State Scientists throughout the State are coming together to demand this Administration keep the promise they made to State Scientists when they agreed to our contract by funding our salary increases and respecting our telework rights.

Since CalHR provided notice to CAPS-UAW informing us that they believe our 2026 Special Salary Adjustments (SSAs) are not funded in the 2026 Budget Act on June 30, we have been working aggressively to get clarification on the situation and ensure the State honors the agreement it made with State Scientists. We continue to pursue every available avenue to protect the raises we fought so hard to win.

Members fought incredibly hard for the current rank-and-file contract, with wins that have also introduced increased benefits and new pay differentials for BU10 Supervisors and Managers. Balancing the budget on the backs of workers by refusing to fund negotiated salary increases is unacceptable. A deal is a deal.

PERB Issued Complaint Against State in RTO Fight

CAPS-UAW took action to file an unfair labor practice charge (ULP) over the State’s unlawful behavior during bargaining over the Return to Office Executive Order on June 18, 2026.

The Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) issued a formal complaint against the State on July 10, 2026.

A PERB complaint means that PERB found enough merit in our charges to advance the case. PERB also granted our request for expedition of this case.

In the ULP, we alleged that the State has refused to bargain over the re-institution of the 4-day in office mandate and engaged in surface bargaining, while instead they went ahead with unilaterally implementing changes to benefits without even bringing those changes to the table. Further derailing a fair process, the State also surveyed Scientists over the exact issues that Scientists made proposals on, and failed to provide us with the information we requested relevant to dramatically increased in-office work.

Assembly Bill 1729
(State Employment: Telework Programs)

CAPS-UAW, in proud partnership with a coalition of other state employee labor unions, helped introduce a bill about Telework. The Telework Bill, AB 1729 ( State Employment: Telework Programs) was introduced by Assemblymember Alex Lee in early February. This is a huge step in our collective fight against the Governor’s arbitrary Executive Order (EO) requiring state employees to return to office 4 days per week, but the bill alone is not enough. Now is the time to stand united in our fight to get the EO overturned. We are stronger together – solidarity forever!

AB 1729 Unanimously Passes Out Government Organization Committee

On June 23, the Telework Bill (AB 1729) made it out of the Senate Government Organization Committee with a unanimous, bipartisan vote from the Committee members! This was the result of all of us continuing to show up and speak out on the importance of defending science and protecting telework! AB 1729 is now headed to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

State Worker Union Coalition Sign-on Letter

Our union joins fellow state employee unions, including SEIU Local 1000, AFSCME 2620, CASE, and others to launch a petition that opposes the Governor’s RTO mandate. Add your name to this State Worker Union Coalition Sign-On Letter to tell Governor Newsom to rescind his costly RTO mandate. Collectively, we are demanding respect and fighting back against attacks on public sector workers.

Join Your Union, CAPS-UAW

It’s up to every State Scientist to stand together in our fight for respect. Whether you are a rank-and-file scientist, a supervisor or manager, by joining your union, CAPS-UAW, you strengthen State Scientists’collective power to enforce rights, benefits, and protections, fight for better working conditions, and demand the respect that every State Scientist deserves!