Pros
Very few, decent pay and benefits if you have no other option but overall pay is well below industry standard for similar trade/craft work. All Mechanical Department trades are paid the same regardless of training required for said position. All trades are not the same and some require much more training and knowledge to perform. This is a major disconnect at Metra. Training is decent if you go through the apprenticeship program, if not you're pretty much on your own. Training and certification requirements need to be standardized throughout the Mechanical Department, there should be much more required training and oversight of new employees in the crafts. If you're lazy its a great place to work because Metra's standards are inconsistent and unenforced so it's easy for underperforming employees to fall through the cracks and get by hiding in the shadow of the few good employees. Even more so if you're related to someone within the company. There is plenty of room for advancement within Metra if you're related to somebody in the company, if not, good luck.
Cons
Where to start... the company is a total politically driven good old boys club. Nepotism is rampant throughout the company. You have people consistently hired/promoted based on personal relationships instead of their qualifications. There are people promoted to management and their direct supervisor is their parent or sibling. This is a total conflict of interest and an unethical business practice. These managers are able to operate with impunity and do as they please which really effects Metra in a negative way. Morale, specifically in the Mechanical Department is terrible. Many people are disgruntled and management continually fosters a toxic and hostile work environment, holding certain individuals accountable while others are able to run the show and do as they please with no consequences. Double standards and favoritism are the norm. Management treats contract employees like second class citizens by stifling ideas for improvement and routinely talking down and belittling them over minor issues. Metra refuses to provide its contract employees with the basic tools and training needed to efficiently do their job and expects its employees to work miracles with limited tools, parts, and training. Sadly, Metra has become a pretty desperate company for employees, and will hire just about anyone regardless of adequate qualifications. They toss out Journeyman cards like they're nothing. Its a complete slap in the face to those that are actually qualified and professionally trained in a craft. It also represents a critical safety issue in the workplace. I would not recommend working for Metra to anybody that values their mental health, personal safety, and professional development.