I read that to say that if his nomination is still pending at the end of this session (which it will be), he'll be paid unless he was a previous recess appointment.
That is a limitation on the power of the President to skip the advice and consent requirement for the Senate by using recess appointments exclusively.
So, he'll get paid for this year, but if Bush has to use the same trick next January, Pickering would be working for free.
That determination is waaaaaaay above my pay grade. :)
It's an interesting question and I just happened to know where to locate the relevant statute, in a timely fashion, from previous research.