Seniority & bumping playbook

A manual walkthrough aid for stability committees — not a calculator

College bumping and displacement files turn on seniority dates, classification boundaries, and posting rules in your collective agreement. This playbook helps committees work a scenario on paper and double-check any in-tool seniority aid. It does not decide outcomes.

Not legal advice — aid, not the calculator

This guide and any Hub seniority helpers are advisory process aids only — not legal advice and not a binding decision engine. Follow your collective agreement, local bumping procedures, and national union guidance. Committee DecisionRecords remain authoritative.

Worked example: comparing seniority

Start with two members and one target role. Write each person’s seniority date, classification, and current status on one sheet before debating qualifications.

List Member A and Member B with seniority date (YYYY-MM-DD) and classification
Confirm which date the CA uses — continuous service, classification seniority, or another clock
Note ties and how your CA breaks them (e.g. earlier hire number, draw)
Only then compare qualifications, hours, and posting eligibility against the CA language

Cascading displacement walk-through

A bump can displace another member, who may then bump further down. Map the chain before the committee votes so no one is surprised mid-meeting.

Draw the chain: vacancy → first bumper → displaced incumbent → next bump (if any)
Stop when the CA says the chain ends (classification floor, probation, temporary status)
Flag anyone who cannot bump (wrong classification, insufficient seniority, refused options)
Record each step in the committee log with dates and CA articles cited

Common pitfalls

Most committee errors come from mixing clocks or ignoring boundaries the CA already defines.

Posting date vs. seniority date — do not treat a vacancy posting date as someone’s seniority
Classification boundaries — FT/PT or support-staff collections may not bump across freely
Probationary or temporary status — confirm bumping rights before ranking someone
Assuming “earlier date always wins” without reading the CA’s tie-break and ability language

Paper worksheet (print or copy)

Use this column layout on a blank page or spreadsheet during the meeting. Keep one copy in the case file.

Columns: Member ref · Seniority date · Classification · Current position · Target / bump claim · Eligible? (Y/N/?) · Notes / CA article
Rows: one per person in the chain, plus a blank row for alternate candidates
Footer: session date, chair, decision summary, and link to the Hub bumping case ID

Officer Hub bumping module

Open College Bumping in the Hub for case notes, PDF comparison, and committee sessions. Use any seniority ranking aid only as a second check — re-run the paper worksheet if the tool output surprises you.

Sources & references

External resources cited in this guide. Always defer to your local executive and union servicing rep for official direction.

OPSEU/SEFPO collective agreements
Public CA documents for citing contract language in comms - never post confidential bargaining details.

Seniority & bumping playbook

A manual walkthrough aid for stability committees — not a calculator

Worked example: comparing seniority

Start with two members and one target role. Write each person’s seniority date, classification, and current status on one sheet before debating qualifications.

List Member A and Member B with seniority date (YYYY-MM-DD) and classification

Confirm which date the CA uses — continuous service, classification seniority, or another clock

Note ties and how your CA breaks them (e.g. earlier hire number, draw)

Only then compare qualifications, hours, and posting eligibility against the CA language

Cascading displacement walk-through

A bump can displace another member, who may then bump further down. Map the chain before the committee votes so no one is surprised mid-meeting.

Draw the chain: vacancy → first bumper → displaced incumbent → next bump (if any)

Stop when the CA says the chain ends (classification floor, probation, temporary status)

Flag anyone who cannot bump (wrong classification, insufficient seniority, refused options)

Record each step in the committee log with dates and CA articles cited

Common pitfalls

Most committee errors come from mixing clocks or ignoring boundaries the CA already defines.

Posting date vs. seniority date — do not treat a vacancy posting date as someone’s seniority

Classification boundaries — FT/PT or support-staff collections may not bump across freely

Probationary or temporary status — confirm bumping rights before ranking someone

Assuming “earlier date always wins” without reading the CA’s tie-break and ability language

Paper worksheet (print or copy)

Use this column layout on a blank page or spreadsheet during the meeting. Keep one copy in the case file.

Columns: Member ref · Seniority date · Classification · Current position · Target / bump claim · Eligible? (Y/N/?) · Notes / CA article

Rows: one per person in the chain, plus a blank row for alternate candidates

Footer: session date, chair, decision summary, and link to the Hub bumping case ID