While the Tesla rally continues on the stock market, the fronts within the works council have also hardened. In an unusual step, IG Metall is taking a stand against the works council chairwoman, as the union made public in a press release. The union applied to the Frankfurt (Oder) labor court to “exclude the works council chairwoman from the works council or at least establish the legal violations”.
The allegations are violent. The previous boss is said to have repeatedly flouted the law in order to hinder the union in its commitment to the interests of the workforce. The Gigafactory needs a works council that fights for the interests of the workforce and not for those of the factory management. If the chairwoman sees things differently, the least she can do is stick to her legal obligations, according to IG Metall.
Tesla is fighting back
The works council chairwoman did not comment on the allegations when asked by manager magazin. Tesla said that since the start of the Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg, IG Metall has repeatedly tried to cause unrest in the factory and “put obstacles in the way of our success strategy,” the electric car maker said in a statement. Tesla also described IG Metall’s move as “desperate”.
With their list “IG Metall – Tesla Workers GFBB”, the IG Metall members form the largest single group in the Tesla works council, but do not have a majority on the committee. The majority are groups that metallers classify as management-related groups. You therefore represent the works council chairwoman.