Pros
Big Pay, good but shrinking benefits.
Cons
No Life. You owe your sole to the company. If you have a spouse you may be looking at divorce. If you have kids forget family time or functions. You are on call 24/7 and just try to take a day off, they keep a list from A to E if you make the E list you are terminated at the third visit to this list. What gets you on this list - taking a weekend or holiday off. Managers are hired from the street and know less about the railroad than the workers. managers at some location outnumber employees The unions have given up and will not fight anymore but you still must belong. If the company shorts you just forget about it as the unions will not fight the claims. The Company denies all valid claims so as to over load the unions and hopes you just give up. There is wage theft on a major scale. You are constantly shadowed and tested, the slightest test failure will result in discipline. Discipline ranges from weeks to months off without pay(be sure to get job insurance) or permanent dismissal. You will be called at all hours and on all days, holidays included. You will be called with little sleep and expected to work 12 hours or more. There is no schedule, you cannot plan your life, think constant canceled Doctors appointments, missed children's birthdays, plays and other family functions. Diabetes is rampant because of constantly changing work times and no regular sleep patterns. Unless you are a workaholic, single, never need a day off and can sleep at the drop of a hat stay away.