Vantaggi
You get to be around books and work with mostly literate people. The benefits are good, and being part of a union has proven to be valuable during this recession. Paid time off is reasonable and increases with seniority. Health care benefits are good, though premiums are more reasonable for single people than for families.
Svantaggi
Working with the public always has its challenges- and its rewards. There isn't much room for meaningful advancement. Job descriptions expand but rarely contract. Wage freezes instituted during leaner times haven't been meaningfully compensated for. Equivalent staff in other area counties make more than we do. And if a toxic work environment is created by a supervisor, good luck getting that taken care of, despite a lot of Diversity, Respect, Anti-Harrassment, and Anti-Bullying Policies.