BERLIN – A major German labor organization has launched criminal proceedings against a Tesla plant supervisor near Berlin, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the electric vehicle manufacturer and organized labor in Germany.
IG Metall, the country’s prominent metalworkers union, announced Tuesday it has filed criminal charges against Andre Thierig, alleging he disseminated inaccurate information about the union. The organization has simultaneously petitioned a labor court seeking a court order to prevent Thierig from continuing to make such statements.
Tesla has not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the allegations.
The conflict stems from Tesla’s own criminal filing made the previous week against a union member, whom the company accused of covertly recording a works council session at the facility. This information comes from an internal staff communication obtained by Reuters, which Tesla has verified as authentic.
IG Metall announced Tuesday it is also developing legal action against Tesla itself, citing interference with union operations.
Union spokesperson Jan Otto addressed the situation in an official statement, saying: “Legal disputes are not our preferred form of dispute resolution. But when a company fights workers’ participation and union work so aggressively, we defend ourselves with all means at our disposal, including legal ones.”
The developments represent another chapter in the deteriorating relationship between the American automaker and German labor representatives at the facility.
