Republican legislators are taking state employees on another roller-coaster ride with the Approprations Committee passing a package of budget balancing bills yesterday, getting it through the Rules Committee today and scheduling a House vote on the plan for tomorrow.

Many state employees are receiving email updates from their agency directors about the progress of balanced budget legislation.  But one thing is clear - the "blend" of pay decreases and furlough days is in response to the organized resistance of state SEIU members.  This legislative change of heart demonstrates the power of workers united and raising their voices. 

But we can't rest now because there's still a lot of work to do.

The 15-bill package that passed out of the Appropriations Committee calls for a 2.75% pay reduction (instead of a 5% salary cut) that "shall come from monies previously appropriated for performance pay," according to the bill.

State employees would take another furlough day before June 30, 2010 and would have to take six furlough days in Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012.

While none of this is great news, it's better than earlier proposals and there's no question it is a response to SEIU members' efforts to resist the cuts. 

And remember - while the state legislature is having its Special Session, we're having a "special session" of our own this Saturday.  If you haven't registered for SEIU's "A New Arizona" endorsement event to change Arizona for the better, you can do so right here.  It's happening this Saturday in Phoenix.

Read more in the Arizona Republic.