Employees at Tesla’s Brandenburg plant are increasingly becoming members of the IG Metall union due to mounting concerns related to health, safety, and excessive workloads, as reported by the union on Monday.
According to the union’s statement, the shortage of staff and insufficient safety measures at the workplace have resulted in a significant uptick in workplace accidents. Additionally, it is not uncommon for approximately 30% of workers to be on sick leave, further underscoring the pressing issues faced by the employees.
Union representatives distributed stickers reading “Together for safe and fair work at Tesla” to workers at the factory gates, nearby stations, and inside the factory on Monday.
Meanwhile, on Sunday night, Tesla managers held a meeting with their teams, offering “free food and a surprise,” with the intention of discussing the presence of IG Metall on the site and addressing concerns about the union’s methods and objectives.
“The law gives all workers the right to organise in a union and stand openly for that at their workplace. That counts at Tesla in Brandenburg as well,” IG Metall’s Dirk Schulze said.
The union explained that, as a standard practice, it does not disclose precise membership figures for individual companies. However, it did note a significant increase in new members joining Tesla.
On Monday, Reuters interviewed a dozen workers at the factory. Among those interviewed, four expressed satisfaction with their working conditions, but the remaining eight cited excessive pressure, frequent accidents, and difficulties with receiving overtime pay as concerns. Notably, two workers mentioned that they were prohibited from speaking to the media.
Reuters could not independently corroborate the union’s assertions, and there was no immediate response from Tesla to a request for comment.
(Source: Victoria Waldersee | Sharon Singleton | Reuters)
