Pros
- High pay for the area. - $10k/yr in tuition reimbursement if you've worked for the company for at least on year (pay up-front, reimbursed later). - Union jobs are given to members with the most seniority, meaning you can easily land a position you don't have a lot of experience in, but then be trained and gain lots of experience. This makes subtle careers changes quite easy if you don't like your particular position in the company.
Cons
- The labor union is aggressive and often needlessly uncooperative. Expect harassment from legacy union members if you're not fully onboard with their attitudes and goals, even if you are a member yourself. - Pay is good, but the gap between Wabtec Erie and other heavy fabrication shops in the area is closing pretty quickly. It may not be long before Wabtec is lagging slightly behind other businesses for similar or the same work. - Career advancement prospects within the company (from union to non-union) are good, but unnecessarily challenging. Being a member of the union seems to genuinely hurt your chances during an interview, but this can be mitigated by having a good resume and making connections with senior leaders.