The leader of Germany’s IG Metall trade union, Christiane Benner, has voiced strong criticism of Tesla’s approach to labor relations within Germany. Speaking to the newspaper “Welt”, Benner accused Tesla management of employing tactics she described as “systematic union-busting” drawing comparisons to strategies observed in the United States. She asserted that Tesla is actively confronting both the union and employees who choose to join IG Metall.
Benner emphatically dismissed suggestions that IG Metall representatives at Tesla’s Grünheide plant are acting as agents for established German automotive manufacturers. She characterized such claims as “an absurd fantasy of a billionaire” referencing Tesla CEO Elon Musk. She noted a growing sentiment of customer dissatisfaction, evidenced by stickers appearing on vehicles indicating opposition to the company’s leadership.
Concerns were also raised regarding a perceived lack of cooperation from Tesla’s management. Benner highlighted a significant difference in engagement with employees compared to typical industrial relations practices, specifically citing the absence of discussions about the company’s economic performance during works meetings, even when requested by employees.
Despite these challenges, IG Metall remains committed to securing a collective bargaining agreement at Tesla. Benner expressed confidence in their ability to achieve this, drawing parallels to the protracted negotiations required to establish a similar agreement with US-based Ford in the 1970s, emphasizing that such agreements are rarely awarded freely.
