A powerful state employees union in California is openly mocking Governor Gavin Newsom (D) by weaponizing the very climate change hysteria he champions — all to avoid going back to the office.
Earlier this month, in a letter to his cabinet secretaries, Newsom advised state agencies to prepare for employees to work primarily in person come July 1. They've been working from home (or in heavy hybrid mode) for more than six years.
Man, wouldn't you know it? At least one union really, really wants to avoid going back to in-person work. At all costs.
The California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges and Hearing Officers in State Employment (CASE) earlier this week fired off “exhaustion” letters to over 100 state agencies, claiming that forcing 90,000+ state workers to commute four days a week would contribute to the global warming crisis.
I say 'mocked' above, but there is a very significant chance that the union here actually believes what it is peddling. And man, did they ever go full throttle here, producing an exhaustive (pun intended) scientific study indicating that their workers heading back to the office would pump an extra 15,000 tons of carbon into the air every month.
Baseline Environmental Consulting, which conducted the study, suggests that the looming return-to-office policy “runs counter to the state’s effort to reduce transportation-sector emissions,” outlined in California’s comprehensive roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality.
State worker union tries novel legal angle to stop Newsom’s return-to-office order https://t.co/kKTDtDSFoS
— The Modesto Bee (@modbee) May 28, 2026
Outrage: Gavin Newsom Vows to Confiscate 100 Percent From California MAGA Victims of Biden Lawfare
As far as circular firing squads go, this is just ... *chef's kiss* baby.
A union representing highly paid government lawyers is now treating a return to the office like some kind of environmental calamity. What is their solution to avoid the crisis caused by actually having to go to work four days a week?
Force every agency to conduct a full-blown California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) environmental impact report before any state worker is required to show up in person. That's right, the union would like the state to conduct endless studies that will likely cost tens to hundreds of millions of dollars, if not more, when you factor in delays, legal fees, and endless litigation.
Naturally, they hope that this argument will force Newsom's hand, and his Brylcreem-infused head will come to the inevitable conclusion that it's just not worth telling state workers to come back to the office. The cost to the environment would be devastating, you see. The cost to the taxpayer as well.
Not that frivolous spending of taxpayer dollars is something Newsom actually cares about.
With that in mind, the union argues—with a straight face, mind you—the current hybrid telework schedule (just two days in the office) is already the best option under the state’s own environmental law.
“Status quo is a feasible alternative,” said CASE President Talene Ghazarian.
In other words, the union is literally telling Gavin Newsom that his own signature climate policies make returning to work illegal.
Oh, Gavin. To paraphrase the great Linus Van Pelt: Of all the Gavin Newsoms in the world, you're the Gavin Newomiest!
“We’re interested in helping the state comply with its own laws," Ghazarian added. "We’re interested in helping the state meet its own environmental goals.”
Yeah, no. You're interested in allowing the workers to continue the work-from-home grift.
What makes this interesting, though, is that Newsom has been cornered. He can’t attack the union without torching his own beloved climate law and carbon-reduction goals that he’s spent years ramming down Californians’ throats.
Only in a one-party blue state clown world could government unions use the Democrats’ favorite environmental weapon to declare commuting to work an existential threat to the planet.
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