More than 3,000 state employees filled the west steps of the Capitol in Sacramento, standing up to protect our pay, our benefits, and the vital services we provide.

But the fight is far from over. The conference committee’s vote is a nonbinding victory and Schwarzenegger is virtually certain to reintroduce his pay cut plan during closed-door budget negotiations with the four leaders of the Legislature.

“The governor has already forced a 10 percent pay cut on state employees, now he needs to cut 10 percent of the state’s $34 billion in private vendor contracts,” Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker said. “It’s time for the governor and his corporate supporters to begin giving back to help balance the budget by closing corporate tax loopholes.”

"We're encouraged," said Jim Zamora, a spokesman for the Service Employees International Union 1000, which represents about 95,000 state workers. "We are hoping that the state will look at other options for cost savings, in part because our members have already experienced (a) pay cut through the furloughs."

Joining us are: ... Dave Hart, President. California State Employees Association, Pat Gantt, President of California State University Employees Union, Olin King, President of the Association of California State Supervisors, Roger Marxen, President of the California State Employees Association Retirees, Inc.

Local 1000 and the SEIU State Council released a new TV advertisement today that takes aim at the massive cuts to state programs proposed by Gov. Schwarzenegger.