It is bad enough that California’s stringent environmental laws have driven up the cost of energy, food, and housing. Now, public-sector unions are weaponizing the state’s most powerful environmental statute to avoid showing up for work.

Getting California’s unionized state workforce back into the office has been a challenge ever since the COVID-19 lockdowns ended. Until June 2024, state employees eligible to work remotely were not required to show up at their offices for even a minimum number of hours. Some departments imposed their own rules, but there was no statewide rule. Since then, state workers have generally been required to report in person two days a week.