Pros
People with little options can have a secure dead end job. They put a coffee machine in the break room, but when people used it too much they started to require we bring in our own cups. Was it to cut costs or was it to save the environment [like they claimed]? You decide. There is a pay for knowledge program, but how fast you progress is determined by your clique. Only 1 person at this plant has ever converted from BTA to Band 1 and he started in the lab. No technician that started on the line has ever entered the lab.
Cons
The environment is very cliquey and promotions aren't based on who is most qualified, but rather those who will ruthlessly stab their coworkers in the back, can be manipulated, or is the biggest brown nose. There are too many people related to one another on the line and this causes performance reviews to be a bit skewed since its your coworkers that rate your performance. So you can have people that sleep on the job get great reviews, while those not in the clique get harsh reviews. You will have young engineers micromanaging your every move, talking down to you, screaming at you, and stabbing you in the back. Don't trust them. Additionally, your managers will make promises that once you do 'X', you will get "Y", but when it comes down to fulfilling their end of the deal always have an excuse. Your engineer managers only care about increasing production at all costs. They don't care about their employees at all. A simple mistake can result in a termination. Rules are selectively enforced and can change quickly for the technicians, but don't expect the same for anyone in an off-line role.