San Francisco Court Clerks Go On Strike

This week's walkout is rooted in longstanding disputes over working conditions that previously led to a one-day strike in October 2024. The union, SEIU 1021, states that court management failed to implement new measures to resolve staffing and training issues as agreed upon after the 2024 strike. Clerks voted to authorize another strike in October 2025 after rejecting a tentative agreement by 62%. The union's core demands include comprehensive training, a reduced workload, and increased hiring to manage what they describe as an unsustainable and surging caseload. Clerks have reported working unpaid through breaks and after hours to keep up, raising concerns that overworked staff are more likely to make clerical errors that could lead to miscarriages of justice. Negotiations for a new three-year contract have been ongoing since September, with over 28 bargaining sessions held. The union filed multiple unfair labor practice complaints against court management, accusing them of bad-faith bargaining. One specific complaint alleges that San Francisco Superior Court CEO Brandon E. Riley improperly entered the union's bargaining caucus room. The strike, involving approximately 220 clerks, forced the court to pause trials and dismiss juries until at least Monday. While the court remained open for emergency and mandated services, many hearings were postponed, and some courtrooms were shut down entirely, creating confusion and delays. Management staff were brought in to triage and prioritize the most urgent matters. After a two-day strike, the union and court management reached a tentative agreement on Friday afternoon. The proposed deal reportedly includes compromises from management on cost-of-living adjustments and a renewed commitment to address the critical staffing and training issues. The agreement must still be ratified by a majority vote of the union members.