Pros
Better than good pay with 20th century union benefits. Never take work home with you. Have deep conversations (if you care) with lots of random people.
Cons
Due to the power of the unions (I was in AFGE), complacent, unmotivated, and/or lazy workers were unable to be fired. This drags down the output and environment of an office. It is the simplest crap to understand as a manager. SSA has a fantastic data system to determine a workers' value. Due to the union, our tax dollars are being spent on inefficient salaries, benefits and pensions because they aren't allowed to reward those whose value is demonstrated by the numbers (quantitative outcomes) and attempt to alter the behavior of the under achievers. Nah, why do that? I have to get mine. I don't trust managers to determine my value....blah blah blah. The agency could be run like a well oiled machine if there was not a union involved with SSA.