INSTRUCTORS CHALLENGE COLLEGE CUTS; FACULTY REJECTS PLAN TO RENEGOTIATE PAY.

Byline: Sharline Chiang Daily News Staff Writer

The day after clerks at Mission, Pierce and Valley colleges said they're not about to let the district whittle a $13 million deficit by withdrawing their pay raises, the college faculty Wednesday joined the chorus of ``Look elsewhere.''

Faculty members at all nine campuses told the Los Angeles Community College's Board of Trustees they will not reopen contracts to negotiate pay deferrals and furloughs.

But they will help find other areas of savings, the head union leader said.

``We're saying we're not going to reopen contracts but we're willing to talk to them about other ways to eliminate the deficit,'' said Carl Friedlander, president of the union branch of the American Federation of Teachers.

Friedlander said among the other areas in which the district still can find savings without touching salaries and benefits are by expanding summer school, selling the district's vacant high-rise at 4050 Wilshire Blvd., refinancing debt, and streamlining employee benefits.

``I think there are certainly things that can be done without opening contracts,'' he said.

The district has been working to cut a $13 million deficit for the current budget year, which ends June 30.

On Tuesday, the district's clerical union, which represents 1,000 workers, also turned down the board's request to return to the negotiating table.

The LACCD board of trustees believes cuts in benefits and salary hikes, and pay deferrals could save some $16 million, covering the $8 million balance in this year's projected unrestricted general fund deficit.

Last week, trustees found $5 million in savings by laying off hundreds of student workers and other temporary employees, freezing spending outside salaries and utilities, and using restricted funds to cover maintenance and capital projects. Those students and other temporary workers affected will be terminated by March 12.