California State Workers Authorize Strike

As if California hasn't enough problems, now the union representing state workers has been given the green light to call for a strike.

Reuters is reporting:

California's largest state employees' union voted on Saturday to approve a strike authorization measure to protest furloughs of state workers and pressure state officials to ratify its labor contract.

A spokesman for Service Employees International Union Local 1000 said a strike was not imminent but that the vote authorized union officers to initiate certain job actions, including a strike if necessary.

The SEIU represents about 95,000 state employees, including clerical workers and teachers.

SEIU has been trying to gain representation status with Securitas USA employees in recent weeks. I currently work for Securitas.

It is fascinating that the liberal Democrat legislature and liberal Republican Governor Schwarzenegger have practically spent California into oblivion and also raised taxes, but they still don't really have enough to cover necessary state services.

Now the state employees are threatening a strike. What interesting times we live in!