CHULA VISTA – Members of a labor union representing Southwestern College employees will vote this week on whether to give up 2 percent of their pay, a decision college officials say would help balance the school's budget.

Southwestern's governing board has asked all employee groups to give up a portion of their salaries in the next academic year to help correct a deficit caused by impending state budget cuts. All have agreed, with the exception of the California School Employees Association, which represents about 380 workers, including secretaries, maintenance staff and others.

The labor union's 200-plus voting members are scheduled to vote on the issue Wednesday morning, hours before trustees will consider the community college's budget for the 2003-04 academic year. The board also will consider a 4.65 percent salary reduction for interim President Norma Hernandez, who has been leading the college since mid-January. Hernandez, who earns $135,000 annually, asked the board to consider cutting the pay for her position.

At stake are the jobs of the college's rank and file, those who are represented by the California School Employees Association. If the pay cut is rejected, the college will have to cut jobs.

Christina Hicks, vice president of the union, said members are worried they still may lose their jobs even if they approve the 2 percent cut.

"They're feeling pushed up against a wall," Hicks said yesterday.

The fear is legitimate, college officials say, because members of the union likely would be the first to lose their position if the state budget situation worsens.

California is wrestling with a budget deficit of about $38 billion. Southwestern needs to cut $6.3 million from its budget, and has identified several ways to do that, including lowering the college's reserve account, using a one-time insurance fund refund and offering early retirement packages.

Members of the Southwestern College Education Association, the labor union representing faculty, voted to accept a one-time 2 percent pay cut next year, a savings of $604,000. Other employees have agreed to take unpaid vacation days for a savings of $320,000. The college also is hoping enough employees will take early retirement packages.