State's largest employee union to go on strike December 5

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KTVU) - The state's largest public employee union has announced it's set to go on strike on December 5.

The Service Employees International Union Local 1000 represents 95,000 state workers. 

Union representatives say the state hasn't budged from its opening offer after more than seven months of negotiations. But state officials say they are committed to bargaining in "good faith". 

The state offered a nearly 12 percent salary increase over four years, but the union says the annual raises would be offset by a proposal for employees to pay more for their health benefits 

"The state can do better. They have an $11.5 billion budget surplus and the independent legislative analyst office says that they'll be recession proof until 2021 so we know they can do better," said Tamekia Robinson, vice president for organizing and representation. 

The proposed strike day, December 5, is the same day new and re-elected state lawmakers are set to be sworn in at the Capitol.