The economy isn't rebounding yet, apparently. An Employment Development Department report says the state lost 20,400 jobs in February and the unemployment rate is still 12.5 percent. Read a Sacramento Bee report here.

A Sacramento Bee editorial calls for the end to the furloughs -- not June 30 but now. However, the same piece also urges state worker unions to agree to salary and benefit concessions.

Catching up: Gov. Schwarzenegger has vetoed Senate President Pro Tem Steinberg's bill, SB X8 29, to exempt from furloughs state workers whose jobs are funded no more than 5 percent from the general fund. Read Steinberg's response here. You can call Steinberg's office to support the Legislature's override of this veto at 916-651-4006.

No surprise here: A Sacramento Bee analysis, reported on The State Worker blog this morning, reveals the average pay -- both base pay and total pay -- for state workers fell 5.4 percent last year. The pay for some job classifications fell as much at 6.4 percent.

Here are a few reports Judge Roesch's order that the furloughs end immediately for about 50,000 rank-and-file state workers. ACSS is researching the case to determine if the ruling also applies to supervisory workers. The governor says he will appeal the ruling to require the employees remain furloughed until June. Sacramento Bee: Senate President Pro Tem Steinberg agrees with the ruling. SEIU Local 1000: Ruling validated its position furloughs were illegal. San Diego/NBC: Ruling not a victory yet. Wall Street Journal: New headache for the governor, who helped close a budget shortfall with measures that included the furloughs.

From the State Worker blog: Both bills of interest to ACSS members, AB 790 and SBX8 29, cleared hurdles in the Senate today. AB 790 passed the Senate Public Employees & Retirement Committee and now goes to Senate Appropriations. This bill would ensure state workers are paid full salaries if the budget is not passed by the deadline. SBX8 29 – exempting non-General Fund positions from furlough – passed the Senate and it's on the way to the governor's desk – where he's "very likely to veto" it, a spokesman says.

On Feb. 5, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch ordered the immediate end to the furloughs and back pay for state workers whose jobs or departments are funded 5 percent or less through the general. See list of affected agencies here.

The Association of California State Supervisors has filed a Petition for Writ of Mandate in Alameda County Superior Court. The writ names Gov. Schwarzennegger, DPA and John Chiang as respondents. The writ seeks to set aside those portions of the governor’s executive order and Furlough Memo that required state agencies to furlough ACSS members and to pay ACSS members their full salaries and benefits for every hour worked at regularly established rates of pay. The case has been assigned to Judge Roesch.

President Arlene Espinoza sent a letter today to the Department of Developmental Services opposing the closure of Lanterman Developmental Center in Pomona. The center provides 24-hour care for people with developmental disabilities. DDS announced the closure in January. ACSS is concerned for the employment of the members at Lanterman and also for the well-being of the residents.

On Thursday, March 4, teachers, students and administrators at schools and college campuses across the state will demonstrate in an attempt to convince the governor and state Legislature to spare education from further budget cuts. This is a nationwide effort. In Sacramento, there will be a rally on the north steps of the Capitol from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Sacramento Bee published a Q&A answering questions about the Alameda judge's order to end the furloughs and give state workers back pay.

State employees are being allowed to retire with more than their limit of accrued vacation time, according to a Sacramento Bee article. The cost to California is estimated at $100 million. Hundreds of employees, the article states, have received more than $100,000 each in unused vacation and other leave time.

Governor Schwarzenegger's lawyers, as expected, filed an appeal of the order to end the furloughs. The link includes further links to the court documents.

ACSS sent a floor alert ahead of the Assembly session today urging Assembly members to vote "yes" on SBX8 29. If approved, this bill would exempt state workers in jobs funded no more than 5 percent from the state general fund. The bill was introduced by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and easily passed by the Senate. Read the alert here.

One sign unions are losing ground: The number of union members in the public sector exceeded their private-sector counterparts for the first time last year. Another: Unions usually gain strength during economic slumps. Not this time. Third: The state's unions are losing in the public opinion poll.