The US electric car manufacturer Tesla has thousands of employees in its factory in Grünheide parallel to a campaign by the IG Metall informed about the union. The company said on Monday evening that around 4,000 employees from the night and early shifts had taken part in the events. At the same time, Tesla rejected IG Metall’s allegations of an “atmosphere of fear” as well as the union’s representation of an action in the factory.
According to IG Metall, more than 1,000 Tesla employees jointly demanded better working conditions in a first-time campaign at the factory in Grünheide. A spokesman for the union said on Monday that they showed up on the night and early shifts with IG Metall stickers on their T-shirts. According to the union, it read: “Together for safe & fair work at Tesla.” The action should continue throughout the day. Tesla replied that around 300 employees had taken part in discussions with the union and that no joint action by more than 1,000 Tesla employees had taken place.
Tesla employees complain about poor working conditions
According to IG Metall, numerous Tesla employees complain about poor working conditions in discussions with the union. They therefore rate the workload as extreme due to short cycle times, a lack of personnel and excessive production targets. Employees also pointed out serious deficiencies in health protection and occupational safety, which led to sickness rates of up to around 30 percent and a high number of work accidents, as IG Metall also announced. The district manager of IG Metall Berlin-Brandenburg-Saxony, Dirk Schulze, said: “When individuals demand improvements, they either get problems or nothing happens. But together it is possible to enforce demands.”
The “Stern” recently reported on a striking number of work accidents in the Tesla factory in Grünheide near Berlin. Tesla reported 190 reportable accidents between June and November 2022. According to the wood and metal trade association, there were statistically 16 reportable accidents among 1,000 employees at car manufacturers and suppliers in 2022. If Tesla’s workforce of around 4,000 employees is used as a basis for May 2022, the statistical number of reportable accidents in the industry would be 64 – that would be significantly fewer than the 190 in the report. However, the cooperative did not provide any specific figures for Tesla.
According to the Brandenburg Ministry of Social Affairs, at least seven serious work accidents have occurred in the Tesla factory since 2021, with Tesla employees affected in three cases. The ministry did not classify the numbers as unusual. The car manufacturer referred to close controls by the authorities. The factory opened in March 2022. According to the company’s latest information, around 10,000 employees work there and the plant is to be expanded. Environmentalists see risks with the factory.