BUYER’S GUIDE
Choosing union scheduling software.
Most teams evaluating scheduling software are moving off one of three things: a spreadsheet, a general shift-scheduling app built for availability and coverage, or a heavyweight enterprise workforce-management suite. Each can produce a schedule — the question for a union facility is whether it enforces your collective bargaining agreement the way it’s written. Here’s what to look for, and how GrievanceFree approaches each.
THE LANDSCAPE
Where the usual options fall short.
Spreadsheets
Flexible and free, but seniority, progression, and overtime balancing live in someone’s head. They don’t enforce anything, and they leave no record of why a decision was made.
General shift-scheduling apps
Good at availability, swaps, and coverage, but typically have no concept of a line of progression, seniority-driven step-ups, or overtime equalization — the parts that cause union grievances.
Enterprise WFM suites
Powerful and configurable, but often expensive, slow to roll out, and sold through a long procurement cycle — heavy for a single plant that just needs the CBA enforced.
Where GrievanceFree fits
Purpose-built for union manufacturing facilities: CBA rules are first-class, pricing is transparent, and every assignment carries its reasoning.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Seven things that matter for a CBA.
Seniority as a rule, not a note
Look for software that reads your seniority list and applies it identically on every run. GrievanceFree makes rank order a rule the engine executes, and records who ranked where on each assignment.
Lines of progression & cascading backfill
Generic tools fill open shifts; union plants need the next-qualified person to step up and the vacancy to cascade down the line. GrievanceFree models the progression and backfills it automatically, checking every move against your hard constraints.
Overtime equalization
Ask how overtime is balanced and offered. GrievanceFree equalizes OT across the roster and sends open overtime out for volunteer signup before anyone is forced.
Hard CBA constraints that never bend
Rest periods and maximum hours should be constraints the system refuses to violate. GrievanceFree treats them as hard rules — it will leave a post open before it breaks one.
A reasoning trace you can defend
When a decision is questioned, you want to show the why. GrievanceFree keeps a reasoning trace behind every assignment: which rule applied, who was skipped, and why.
Data ownership
Decide where your roster and seniority data live. GrievanceFree can run against your own PostgreSQL database, inside your network — your data stays on your hardware.
Transparent pricing
Prefer clear per-seat pricing over an enterprise sales cycle. GrievanceFree is a flat $4/employee/month (optional $2 call-in add-on, $50/month minimum) with a free trial.