Editor’s note: This is the third story in a continuing series on the impact of budget cuts at Bakersfield College.

As the massive state deficit continues to whittle away at Bakersfield College, many people among the classified staff may find themselves “bumped” out of a job.

As staff positions fall prey to cuts, BC is dealing with the problem by using a process called “bumping,” where employees with more seniority have the option to replace more junior employees. One classified union official says it does more harm than good.

“The bumping process itself creates chaos,” said Mike Noland, a labor relations representative with the California School Employees Association.

In his view, cutting staff is not the solution to the college’s budget woes.

“When you’re cutting staff, you’ll be losing something. The district is cutting pieces of itself away,” Noland said. “You ought to look at your spending first.”

He says that recent faculty raises should have been postponed amid the current crisis.

“Because we gave people raises, we had to pull back classes and cut staff,” Noland said. As a consequence, he said, “enrollment has dropped.”

As bumping shifts many staffers into unfamiliar positions, the district has said it will provide any training necessary.

The timing behind the process is proving to be the largest glitch for many.

Suzan Pinza, chairwoman of the Academic Development Department, has experienced the problems presented by the bumping process.

Pinza sees this as a period of adjustment, but with a month left in the semester, “It’s a difficult time to do that,” she said. Though the replacements can often fulfill the basic requirements of their new positions, it takes them time to learn.

“It’s affecting the students,” she said.

Though Pinza has seen one instance of bumping transition smoothly, another case has been more of a challenge.

“The replacement does not have the experience,” she said. “It doesn’t appear that was taken into consideration.

Bumping is part of the negotiated agreement between the union and the California Community Colleges.

“I know it’s the way that the contract is written, the job description is written, but maybe those should be rewritten,” said Pinza.

Despite several attempts, Ray Quan, director of human resources, was unavailable for comment.