The Savers Weekly

Week of October 4 – 10, 2026

Hey — here’s what happened this week that actually affects you, plus a few things you shouldn’t miss.

This week’s top stories

1. 96% Vote YES: 100,000 California State Workers Set October 21 Strike Against Newsom

96.2% of voting SEIU Local 1000 members authorized the first strike in the union’s history — a one-day walkout set for Wednesday, October 21, with picket lines 7am–3pm in Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, Fresno, Los Angeles, Norwalk, San Bernardino, and San Diego. The union wants 20% over three years plus telework protections; expect delays at the DMV, unemployment, and disability offices. Read more →

WHAT THEY’RE NOT TELLING YOU: Newsom vetoed AB 1729 — the telework bill that would have saved taxpayers $225 million a year — right in the middle of a strike vote over telework. Meanwhile strikers get no pay and no unemployment, and the union’s own strike fund can’t cover wages. A bluff with a hair trigger — and you’re the one who’ll wait in line.

2. Minimum Wage Jumps to $17.40 in California for 2027 — Here’s What Your ‘Raise’ Really Buys

California’s minimum wage climbs from $16.90 to $17.40 an hour on January 1, 2027 — Washington, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Michigan are hiking theirs too. But with unemployment above the national rate and businesses cutting shifts and closing doors, the bigger number lands on shrinking paychecks. Read more →

WHAT THEY’RE NOT TELLING YOU: A fifty-cent raise delivered by automatic inflation math isn’t a raise — it’s the system admitting your dollar is worth less. The wage floor is rising fastest exactly where the job market is weakest. Workers don’t need a bigger number on paper. They need hours.

California watch: pay & new laws

• AI can’t fire you alone anymore: Newsom signed SB 947 (no discipline or firing based solely on AI, effective July 1, 2027) and SB 951 (mass layoffs caused by AI must open the WARN notice with “This notice is for a technology displacement,” from Jan 1, 2027). AB 1883 bans AI emotion-reading surveillance and brain-data collection; AB 1331 bans workplace bathroom surveillance. gov.ca.gov
• Wage-theft lawsuit Sacramento can’t shake: An Alameda County judge refused on Sept 10 to dismiss the suit over the Labor Commissioner’s wage-claim backlog — roughly 47,000 unresolved claims, with a median 854-day wait against a ~120-day legal deadline. The agency says it cut its intake backlog from 30,000 to 6,000 and recovered $78M last year. Lawyers and Settlements
• IHSS caregivers press for higher wages in San Bernardino County: Dozens of caregivers and union reps packed the Oct 6 board meeting demanding a fair wage increase, citing $19/hour pay and provider shortages that could leave recipients without care. Citizen Portal
• Farm labor contractor rules tighten: AB 2227 (signed Sept 18) doubles bonding requirements and expands penalties for farm labor contractors — it pairs with AB 2646’s $19.75 farmworker minimum wage starting Jan 1, 2027. Western Livestock Journal

Free help: don’t leave money on the table

Got hurt on the job? A bad back from lifting patients, a slip in a client’s kitchen, a repetitive-strain injury nobody warned you about — and now your boss says workers’ comp “doesn’t cover” you, or the insurer is stalling your claim. That’s usually a lie worth money. It’s free to talk to us, takes two minutes, and there’s nothing to sign up for.

Find free legal or insurance help →

App spotlight

Tegula Stone

Need work done on your home — or need the work? Tegula Stone is a free marketplace where California homeowners post projects and independent pros find local jobs. No fees for homeowners. Find pros or jobs free →

The Care Royal

Families looking for a caregiver and caregivers looking for work: free signup, no commissions, no middleman taking a cut. Sign up free →

Your Pup’s Bestie

Dog walking, boarding, and daycare in Los Angeles — dogs stay in a real home with a big backyard, not a kennel, with photo updates through the day. Book a stay →

Don’t miss out

• Taste of Soul Festival — Sat Oct 17, 10am–7pm, Crenshaw Blvd (Stocker St to Obama Blvd), LA. The West Coast’s largest free street festival: 300+ vendors, 3 live stages, kids’ activities, plus free eye and dental exams. No ticket needed. Details
• Medicare Open Enrollment starts Thursday: Oct 15 – Dec 7. Review your plan now — premiums, drug tiers, and doctor networks change every year, and what you pick takes effect Jan 1, 2027. Free help: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or compare at Medicare.gov. What to check
• Covered California Open Enrollment: Nov 1 – Jan 31 (enroll by Dec 31 for Jan 1 coverage). Average premiums are up ~9.9% and enhanced federal credits expired — shop around before you auto-renew. Free help: 1-800-300-1506. Enrollment guide

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