Pros
The insurance is good. There are many good people working there.
Cons
OVERTIME. OVERTIME. OVERTIME. These people had rather work a man to death than hire someone else. SInce the new contract was ratified, new employees only get paid about 70% of what old contract employees get paid. New contract employees can expect to receive 2 weeks paid vacation after 2 years of service whereas old contract hands get 5 weeks. The heat is terrible. At any given time during the summer, it is at least 100 degrees in the tube mill. Winter months are spent shivering unless you are lucky enough to work in casting or extrusion. The union ( USW Local 8420 ) is a joke. Mueller has the union officials in their pockets. There are no training programs. If you do get a job there you'd better be a quick learner. If you start off in shipping, driving a forklift, or a few other jobs you can expect to top out at $11 per hour and that is after working there for 2 years. Older hands are making $17 - $20 per hour for doing the exact same job you do. Machinery is outdated. Many safety issues go unresolved. If you are married, forget about a family life. Expect to work 12 hours a day until further notice. Forget about working day shift for at least 5 years, or if you're lucky enough to get on days, expect to either come in early or work late for an untold length of time. Forget about weekends because you will be working 2 straight weekends with the third off if you don't get drafted. It just ain't worth working there anymore. At one time, Mueller was THE place to work. That time is long gone.
