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Hard-Working Californians Shouldn't Pay for Budget Gridlock

The Governor signed an executive order to cut the pay of 200,000 state workers to the federal minimum wage - at $6.55 an hour, these are poverty wages - until the budget is passed. He says that he needs the money to keep the state afloat. On July 1, legislative employees stopped being paid and doctors and hospitals had their rates cut. Working people's paychecks are being hijacked because some legislators refuse to work with their colleagues and compromise.

This is unacceptable!  Click Here to Take Action now to demand that your legislators pass a responsible budget and stop holding working people hostage in their partisan games. 



Support State Workers; Support a Responsible Budget
Spread the word in your community. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper today demanding an end to the budget gridlock that is holding the whole state hostage, including state workers, hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics.


Make Your Voice Heard!

Hold Politicians Accountable in California
CA State House

Elected Officials
Connect with your elected officials at the federal and state levels. Find out who they are, and quickly access their bio and contact information.

SEIU's Political Might Rated #1

In a National Journal analysis of the win-lose records of 20 advocacy groups for the most competitive races this past election, SEIU ranked highest at mobilizing grassroots supporters and getting voters to the polls.


Groups like People for the American Way and Human Rights Campaign accounted for other top-performing organizations while conservative and business groups such as Focus on the Family and National Federation of Independent Business ranked last.  Learn more (pdf) 

Get Involved

Attend a Lobby Day at the State Capitol!

SEIU has had a long history of political activism and every year, SEIU State Council hosts a variety of lobby days on important working family issues.   We believe that it is necessary to work with legislators to keep them informed; if politicians are not aware of SEIU members positions on working family issues, their attention is focused in other directions.  Together, we can make politicians listen - and take action - on issues like health care, education, and retirement security.

 Lobby Day Calendar


SEIU 2008 Issue Priorities

Public Sector
 Budget.SEIU Members Lobby for DDFor all of our public sector members, from developmental disabilities workers to classified school employees to parks employees, ensuring that California doesn’t throw away its future and destroy what we’ve worked so hard to build as a state by slashing vital programs is the top priority.