Merced, CA (January 8, 2026) — Employees from the Merced Superior Court gathered along M Street during their lunch break today, and plan on rallying again tomorrow at noon. They spent their lunch break protesting wages and raising concerns about court spending and salary decisions.
In a statement sent to the Los Banos Enterprise, a court employee said workers are protesting for higher wages, citing low starting pay and limited annual raises. “Right now our starting wage is $18,” the employee wrote, adding that employees have been offered raises of no more than two percent.
The employee also said four senior administrators at the court earn about $200,000 per year and claimed that in 2023 those administrators divided $1.86 million in state spending among themselves. According to the employee, the spending was approved by the court’s presiding judge at the time.
“I’m sure the residents of Merced County would like to know how their tax dollars are spent,” the employee wrote, asking for public attention on the issue.
Employees participating in the protest are represented by AFSCME Local 57. Union representatives confirmed they are involved in ongoing discussions related to employee wages.
The Los Banos Enterprise has reached out to Merced Superior Court administration for comment on the claims raised by employees. This is a developing story.
