IG Metall won the company elections at the Tesla factory in Grünheide, reports the Handelsblatt newspaper. The “IG Metall Tesla Workers GFBB” list obtained 3,516 of the 8,917 votes available. The “Giga United” list, of the current works council leader, Michaela Schmitz, received 3,201 votes. Tesla factory employees were able to vote from Monday to Wednesday.
According to preliminary results, IG Metall members are now entitled to 16 seats on the works council. “Giga United” will have 15 seats in the future. The “One Team” list wins five seats, “Giga Fair” wins two seats and “Giga for All” wins one seat.
Elon Musk, the anti-union activist
It's no secret that there are many union opponents at Tesla. Schmitz and Tesla executives warned of the consequences if IG Metall gained influence. Tesla boss, billionaire Elon Musk, also clearly positioned himself on the side of union opponents.
In a speech to his German employees, he said that collective agreements “divide companies.” The newspaper Handelsblatt has a recording of the speech. Musk said that an outside authority had other interests and could therefore harm Tesla.
Tesla employees create employee representatives in the US and are fired
It's no surprise that Musk is against a union. Also in the US he has always tried to ensure that his employees do not organize in this way. In 2023, employees at a Buffalo factory tried to form a workers' representative body and were immediately fired, the Tagesschau reports.
Numerous workplace accidents have occurred in the past at various Tesla factories, reports “heise.de”. Apparently, steel beams and metal bars fell next to the employees. An employee is said to have suffered a concussion after being thrown in an explosion at the metal smelting area.
Employees complain about inadequate health protection
Serious workplace accidents have also occurred in Grünheide, reports the Tagesschau. Tesla factory employees complain about short cycle times, understaffing and excessive production targets. The protection of health and safety at work also shows potential for improvement.
IG Metall wants to introduce changes and not only demand a collective agreement, but also address employee complaints. The Handelsblatt newspaper reports that the union specifically wants to campaign for longer breaks on the assembly line, predictable free time, more employees and better health protection.