cnc machinist

GN CORPORATIONS INC

I started at GN in the assembly dept while it existed in Calgary as a part marker, I learned that position the first day because it’s easy so I was eventually moved into the downhole tool assembly dept and picked it up very fast, I also worked very hard. My opening wage was 11.50 per hr which was low for the work, fortunately for me all the workers ranked above me left one after another due to the environment and work hours needed and I became lead hand and supervisor. I got a raise to 15 per hour which was low for the position, I did not mind though because I punched a ton of ot on the weekends by myself getting everything prepped and ready for the coming week, I continued to go above and beyond the call of duty, I crushed my hand at work and never reported it because the uppers asked me to please keep it quiet. I worked hard, I trained every new person to arrive in all depts, I also took on the painters position at the other shop so when I finished all my work, I now had more work. I did it without a complaint because I liked the work atmosphere overall and I loved to paint. Eventually the two Calgary locations started the move to airdrie so now my time was spent between three shops driving my own vehicle and working to complete the jobs that continued to roll in fast, moving inventory and setting up stations and painting. I was also training people to drive forklift as well during all this to help with the move. So while everyone did their one job I did roughly 30, I was eventually bumped to 25 an hour because I was not replaceable at that point, I had training that no one else there had. I had a great crew finally put together and we built a ton of product for GN, heavy stuff too with no crane or anything so we hand bombed stuff into vices, etc. It was such a hazardous way but hey, I was the team player so I did it. So the new shop was up and running finally after so much work and too many hours and eventually word of a union started to make its rounds and it would have made sense to get some workers protection, especially now that I trained people to build The products. I was still the best though, I could build prototype downhole tools while management were trying to get the plans sent from the uk and other stuff and I should have been paid better but hey, still team guy so my boss eventually asked me to help sway the vote away from a union forming and he’d hook us up with continued free hockey ticket draws and stuff so as a team guy, I did it and pushed and finally the vote came, no union. We all thought wooohooo but then the worst started to get even worse, anyone making over a certain amount of money started getting laid off, machinists were flying out the door and being replaced by cheap foreign labour and then it happened, one morning my boss came down to see me in a little electric car and asked me to chat in the office, he said sorry but we have to let you go...I was blown away after what I did for these ungrateful people but hey I was making above 25 bucks so out I went and the entire assembly dept was then filled by Vietnamese workers. I made some great friends there but also learned some valuable lessons. Stay away from GN

Do you like punching into the clock at the start of a shift 10min early and not getting paid for it? Do you like working 20min over time to finish a job and not get paid for it?(because that’s how the time punch system works). Do you like passing probation period and not getting promised wage increase? Do you like being underpaid in general? Do you like having management that pretend to care about your job related opinions and concerns? Do you like having no Human Resources staff to go to when you have concerns? Do you like going to work where higher management is manipulative, praises you, and promises progression in your position only to give a false sense of importance and value? Do you like running around trying to get things done because almost every department is understaffed? Do you like working a thankless job? 

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then for your own sake you should go see a doctor and get him to check you for brain damage.

Do you like making the same part over and over? Setup opportunity is minimal. Even if you have the skills to do so you get put in a button pusher role as an "operator". QC department can't measure. The company dumps all of its money into new equipment, doesn't invest in the employee. Half of the machines are down for maintenance. Low company morale and poor work practices. They want to hire skilled workers but pay bare minimum. No coffee breaks, just 30min unpaid lunch. Sweat shop environment when busy. Or standing around doing nothing for days on end waiting for work. Lots of favoritism, too many chiefs not enough Indians. No reward for skills, hard work, and problem solving.

I showed up for a 10am scheduled interview and they asked me to leave and return an hour later then had me wait in the lunch room for one hour.
Someone walked me around the shop and then made me check some parts.
After I was done I just stood there until somebody returned. Worst interview I've ever had. They made me an unreasonable wage offer and said that was the best they could do without talking to upper management that wasn't available at the time. Felt like I was dealing with a used car salesman.
I declined. They called me back 2 months later and didn't recall ever having given me an interview in the first place. Big waste of time.

The owner as well as his four adult-aged kids (working at GN) are bunch of COVID-19 deniers and anti-vaxxers. They make fun of people wearing masks at work and force us to attend anti-vaccination propaganda in lunchroom. The company has some good equipment, but management do not respect work-life balance. They avoid union-minded workers at all cost. Did I mention there is no human resource department? Good luck getting any support when you have payroll or benefits issue. We used to have paid lunch break but it was taken away during COVID.

GN is a lot of lipstick on a pig. While they rationalize manipulating the requirements and customer needs until they themselves believe the lie. The company is ego centric driven and there are ridiculous expectations placed upon the employees. Cult based mob mentality is a fitting description.  

Asking for a permanent filling of an in existent position in order to fix some machines without hiring a contractor to do that. Ugly practice taking advantage of the labor market at the moment. Also no Human Resources personnel and no right to join a union. Position was actually for few weeks without being advertised so and with payment as for probation period

Unless you want to be under stimulated, under paid, and under appreciated I would not recommend working here ever. The management is the worst I've dealt with ever.

This company offers little in terms of growth opportunities or job satisfaction. The work environment is highly toxic, with little to no attention given to employee well-being. Management lacks transparency, and there is a clear disconnect between employees and higher-ups. Would not recommend starting a career here.

- Professional people
- Professional workplace
- Health & Safe place to work
- Proud to tell family & friends I work here
- The technology is advanced
- Smart workforce with smart and supportive management
- Engaging work and fulfilling career choice

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