Pros
-A feeling of "we're in this mess together" from your fellow mechanics -Most days are 8hrs
Cons
-Equipment isn't being maintained; Broken air lines, leaking pressurized water, broken doors, broken lifts, broken cranes/controls, cracked jigs, dangerous company vehicles -If you injure yourself, management will do an investigation(find a way to put you at fault) before providing health care. Broken limbs? Severe cuts? Concussions? Tough luck buddy you're gonna have to spend a few hours in an office before finding yourself a ride because we don't want to call you an ambulance -If you file safety hazards, you become a prime target for harrassment by management -Tools aren't being provided, and you're found with a fabricated tool or a tool you've brought from home, you are brought in for investigation and potential suspention -Training isn't provided; you are thrown on the job and hopefully you figure it out -Management has no clue about work scopes and timelines; they breathe down your neck the whole shift because some bean counter told them a 4hr job takes 10minutes -If you miss a defect(because you are forced to cut corners) and it causes a train delay, you betcha that's a suspension -The union at the national level supports the company more than their members -Bloat in work responsibilities; I'm a mechanic, an electrician, an IT technician, a radio technician, a diesel service assistant, a labourer, and a hostler. Yet my pay is dwarfed by what I can make in other industries