Tesla may make some very economical and good looking cars, but despite doing a lot of good things, the company isn’t immune to trouble. According to a new complaint filed by the National Labor Relations Board, Tesla is now under fire.
The complaint tells us that Tesla is said to be overreaching in its control over its workers. The company is also alleged to be violating their rights with strict confidentiality agreements which could also prevent the workers from coming forward with complaints over their own working conditions in the company.
Furthermore, the filing claims that Tesla employees who have attempted to start unionization efforts with other employees have been faced with threats of terminations.
Here’s where things get interesting. Tesla didn’t just respond to the allegations, but went full force on offence. In a statement Tesla gave to Jalopnik, the company attacks the United Auto Workers:
As we approach Labor Day weekend, there’s a certain irony in just how far the UAW has strayed from the original mission of the American labor movement, which once advocated so nobly for the rights of workers and is the reason we recognize this important holiday. Faced with declining membership, an overwhelming loss at a Nissan plant earlier this month, corruption charges that were recently leveled against union leaders who misused UAW funds, and failure to gain traction with our employees, it’s no surprise the union is feeling pressured to continue its publicity campaign against Tesla. For seven years, the UAW has used every tool in its playbook: misleading and outright false communications, unsolicited and unwelcomed visits to the homes of our employees, attempts to discredit Tesla publicly in the media, and now another tactic that has been used in every union campaign since the beginning of time – baseless ULP filings that are meant only to generate headlines. These allegations, which have been filed by the same contingent of union organizers who have been so outspoken with media, are entirely without merit. We will obviously be responding as part of the NLRB process.
Telsa will be able to officially address this issue when its hearing with National Labor Relations Board takes place on November 14th.
