Alleges Tesla tried to stop unionization
Earlier this month, we reported that Tesla had fired more than 400 employees under suspicious circumstances. The electric car startup said the firings were performance-related, but several of those fired claimed they’d never received a bad review. But the situation got even more complicated this week when the United Automobile Workers union filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board accusing Tesla of unfair labor practices.
Automotive News reports that the UAW’s complaint claims that Tesla has illegally worked to prevent employees from unionizing. It says employees have been intimidated, punished for wearing clothing that displays union logos, and even fired for supporting unionization.
“Tesla, which recently fired hundreds of employees for ‘performance issues,’ swept up many pro-union employees in the terminations. Several pro-union employees have come forward with copies of their performance reports, which show no areas of concern,” said the union in a statement.
In response to the unfair labor practices complaint, Tesla released a statement dismissing it altogether. “No one at Tesla has ever or will ever have any action taken against them based on their feelings on unionization,” said Tesla. “It’s worth remembering that each year, roughly 20,000 ULPs are filed with the NLRB by unions like the UAW as an organizing tactic.”
It’s now up to the NLRB to review the complaint and determine whether or not there’s enough evidence to launch a formal investigation.
Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)