Pros
Health care & retirement. However, by the time you reach retirement, you'll probably be morbidly obese, diabetic, depressed and die within a few years of retiring.
Cons
Hiring Process - Will lie to you straight to your face. I was told, "they need bodies so bad, you'll have no problem marking up as a conductor". When I started training I asked conductor's at my terminal how busy they were and they stated they were barely working and that I would most likely be furloughed upon completion of training. Sure glad I quit a job I liked to work at UP. NOT! Mgmt- Most managers are bottom of the barrel and not critical thinkers at all. However, that's the type Lance Fritz and the gang want, managers that can be brainwashed into thinking all union employees are dirt. Training - Classroom training was excellent, after that it was hit or miss depending on who trained you. Too many of the coworkers did not want to deal with new employees and complained continuously about everything. Union - Union tries its best, but is helpless against a ruthless, scroungy company that completely ignores union agreements. Rules - I agree that you need rules in this type of business as most are written in blood. However, they are applied inconsistently and most managers cannot interpret them correctly. You'll get the famous, "my interpretation of this rule is this". Not acceptable. I could not recommend this company at all after my disastrous experience.