laborer

maintenance electrician

maintenance mechanic

industrial electrician

technician

Amsted Rail

I worked on just about every line possible there in the Quality Inspection department.  Usually 12 hour shifts, usually 6 nights a week.  A lot of mandatory overtime.  Since I was low on the totem pole (union job), I was frequently moved around or moved to a different position within my department.  That was fine as far as the positions was concerned.  I learned a lot about each role and mastered just about all of them.  Catch 22 though.  I knew more than a lot of "veterans" and wasn't compensated for it. So I was valued as a knowledgeable employee, but due to union rules, when layoffs came I was let go even though I consistently outperformed most of the people in my department.  
A lot of criminals worked there, and I didn't really care after awhile.  I'd say it toughened me up quite a bit in dealing with people and getting my point across.  In a strange way, it taught me a lot about people and made me somewhat of a leader.  It was a bit nerve racking at first though as a young kid basically still fresh out of high school.
When it was busy, it was busy.  Like I said, a lot of mandatory overtime.  When it was slow, it was slow.  I went from working 70ish hours a week to 32 at the drop of a hat it seemed like.  I knew the company track record as far as that was concerned and never considered this to be place I'd stay long whether I wanted to or not.
It is hard work, even as an inspector.  I did a fair share of chipping to help out as well to get our incentive pay when it was crunch time.  Before I was totally let go, I was brought down to a laborer on the pouring floor (union rules).  I was not happy about working near a giant vat of molten steel basically above my head.  I'm tough, but if molten steel lands on you...you are kind of screwed.
When I was called back I had found a different job for the same pay as I was getting on the pouring floor.  I wasn't called back for inspection.  If the company wasn't so unstable as far as layoffs are concerned I might have went back.  I didn't trust them though, I kept the sure thing I had found.  Also as far as pay is concerned, this is one of the lowest paying steel companies to work for.

What is the best part of working at the company?
There  is absolutely nothing good about working for the company at the present time. I can honestly say about 15 years ago it was a profitable company. To work at for the employees and the employers. But the new young, Management  are self absorbed and care -free about the welbing and the future of  there dedicated 20 years plus employees. It's all about Co. And cut-backs for profit.  I wouldn't recommend any one to apply for a job where they play with your emotions and your livelihood, not to mention your financial stability,  with no care at all.  They took everything that we worked for and earned as an dedicated employee. Pention, incentive, overtime , and just good o'l respect and  appreciation for the trailblazers of the steel foundry. I can sadly say I invested  or should say I wasted 20 plus years at this company.  In a nutshell they suck!!!!

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The new management. And the fact that the company has the union in there pocket. So it's better working at a fast food.  Because the environment is not hazardous and you'll make the same money now 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The environment in very stressful and you are working in un controlled climate  what ever the weather is out side add 15degrees to the work environment it's terrible 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Now....very stressful  and anxious to go anywhere.

I started here as temp in general accounting. I liked it there, but they wouldn't hire me because I was a female with children (that's what the director told me). I moved to accounts payable still as a temp. I figured I would learn all I could while I was there. I did processing for a month, and then was moved to working the phones. I handled over 45 phone calls per day and hundreds of emails. I also had to sort and deliver mail as well as log wayward checks and cash. I was worked to the death and reasonably struggled to keep up. I finally got a job elsewhere. I gave a two week notice, but I was cut short. The AP manager told the temp agency I was behind on my work and didn't care when in fact I did care and was doing my best to keep up with a job meant for two to three people while training a new person. The AP department has been behind for a long time. I didn't single handedly destroy the department as the manager claimed. Stay away. They will lure you in with the promise of a contract to hire job. They just use temps to throw under the bus for management's own short comings and inadequacies. The discrimination is in that place is viral, but nobody cares. I faced gender discrimination as well as religious discrimination. A supervisor made comments that I didn't look Aryan enough to have a German last name. The reason I don't look Aryan is because I am Jewish. Take my advice. Go work for a better company that has professionals and operates in the 21st century.

They lie about working weekends. Saturdays are mandatory and you work every saturday. 

They will lie and tell you you can get the top pay of $35 in 2 months which isnt true.

They dont supply you with the tools you need to do your job and they expect you to carry your tools everywhere.

They dont care about your personal life at all when it comes to switching your shift. I took a day class to accommodate working 2nd shift, then they switched me to day shift and fired me when i didnt come in.

All the parts and things you need are locked up and you need to ask someone to get them for you because they dont trust you.

They claim they train you. There is no real training system.

Ridiculous points system for attendance. Have a personal life and need to leave early or take days off? You get points, too many points and you're fired, no matter what.

They make you keep a journal of what you do and what time you do it and you have to fill out a sheet at the end of every shift.

They expect you to be there at least 15 minutes early (unpaid) so you can be already working by the time your shift actually starts.

Its horribly loud and filthy filthy dirty. i didnt get any uniforms the 2 weeks i was there and ruined a lot of personal clothes.

Very poor communication from management. They will hire you without describing the job at all or even giving you a walk through of the plant. Youll start without even knowing where the bathrooms are or what time break is. They will also fire you just as quickly with no warning.

● Work-life balance
Vary hard and dirty work. Often I would come home covered in filth/oil and itching from the fiber glass inside the furnace.
Management sucks and is racist especially Jeff and Brian.Jeff is the reason why the union contract is anti-employeee. They were also constantly switching my schedule every 3 or 4 weeks.

● Pay & benefits
You have to be there a year just to get 1 week off and if you're on 10+ hour shifts they won't pay for the whole day. Insurance you have to be there 120 days with the company. Probation is 120 WORKING days meaning they only count the days you work so probation can be 4+ months easy depending if they still are shutting down due to covid.
All of the benefits there suck but it's better than nothing. The union also isn't great they don't do much to help you. 

Pay is ok

● Job security and advancement
They say they have a training program but they don't. You work and are expected to know/do everything. As you prove yourself you get promoted.

● Management
Management is bad and/or racist. The only acception were Nick, Marry, Gio, and Ian.

● Culture
They want you to always be constantly doing something at all times and will fire you for anything so watch your back.

● Overall
Not the best place to work.
Extremely dirtier than most maintenance jobs
Work life imbalance. 
Pay was decent but they shut down for a week or two every month due to covid which hurts finicially.
 Management needs a lot of work. 
Union is useless 
Pay is ok.

A typical day at Brenco in my department is very hot. I run the hot lines. There we melt down raw steel and transform each cut slug into a cylinder cup or cone.
I've learned how to use SAP, how to operate 6 different types of presses and 4 types of mills. I am also in the process of learning the marauder.
Management I would say is under construction.
My co-workers are hard workers. We all value our jobs, others value the security of their job while others can not advance but my co-workers all rise above that.
The hardest part of the job should be the graveyard shift! Unfortunately, it's caryying the load of what three other shifts should be doing.
The most enjoyable part of the job is to be able to come to a place where I am respected knowing they all know how hard I work. I do not mind how much we have to push out as far as production I just want to meet production! It makes me happy to know that I'm an assett to the company but I am not doing what I do for Brenco alone I'm doing what I do for myself as well!is the

Making steel train wheels.

Still is ramp up phase so days can be good and rather smooth or tough with several break downs.

You learn a lot about time management and working efficiently. New skills such as working with hot steel or basic mechanics are easily learned.

Management works hard to be fair, but expect pressure to meet goals. They work just as hard next to you or sometimes behind the scenes on the big picture.

Most workers there want to succeed and give it their all, though there are those few who are there to receive, not earn, a paycheck and they drag everyone else down.

Hardest part is the time commitment. It should level out eventually but for this first year it is requiring a lot of schedule changes and long hours that are discouraging. Most of us are hoping for the best that it will eventually flatten out and become a smooth 40 hr/ 8hr work weeks with the occasional weekend overtime.

When things are rolling and machinery is working, the feeling of worn out but great success comes at the end of a hard day.

Speaking for Camp Hill facility only here:
Was an awesome place to work, with good benefits, and good work/life balance. 
Remotely managed, it was fine up until about 3-4 years ago when a new (micro) manager took the reins.  He does not trust decisions made by local management and local management is just a yes man.  Everyone is a number.  Investments in the company are measured by how many heads they will cut.  They added a 2nd shift to production, but will not staff with supervision, so 1st shift is stuck trying to cover both, but that is not sustainable.  Engineering staff are leaving and not being replaced, so innovation and new product development is no longer a priority.  What was once a healthy, vibrant company is now malnourished and the hard working crew is only there because they invested many years and are looking for other jobs or hoping to make it a few more years to retirement.  


Terrible place. Cannot wait to find another job. 12 to 13 days straight in my department. 14+ in the back. Junior supervisors like to micro manage everything and try to write you up for everything little thing that they don’t like even though they have no idea what they are talking about. Hot, dirty, loud, forcible up to 20 hours on startups and shutdowns, and 16 hours throughout the week. Your “union brothers” will screw you over every chance they get. “FMLA” is abused a lot out here, guys taking 15+ days off a month on “FMLA”. The only good thing is the pay rate… BUT other plant locations are making more hourly in the lowest paid job in my department than the highest paid in my department at Keokuk location. One of the highest paying jobs in the area, but feel underpaid for the work we do. Overall, if you have kids and would like to be in their lives, do not work at Amsted rail. You’ll never see them because you practically live at work. 

Amsted Rail is a manufacturer of freight train brakes.   I really enjoyed my time there.  I worked in the steel shop MIG welding.  I was responsible for 10 different jobs/parts to weld.  Some took only a few minutes, others up to 30-40 minutes.  I worked in a private weld cell and was responsible for moving the supplies I needed on the fork lift, keeping track of my production numbers, and quality control paper work.  I worked night shift for two years and day shift for about four months.  I was laid off in October 2016 and called back a few months later.  When I returned I was told it was for a 3 month contract.  After three months I was told they were not hiring welders at the moment and I could go to the assembly department.  I was not interested in doing that so I decided to look for a new job.  I got along with all my bosses and coworkers.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Laborer 2 salaries reported	$24.84 per hour
Maintenance electrician 10 salaries reported	$39.17 per hour
Maintenance mechanic 3 salaries reported	$34.29 per hour
Industrial electrician 2 salaries reported	$41.85 per hour
Technician 1 salary reported	$27.77 per hour

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