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Blog Tesla Calls National Labor Relations Board Complaint a ‘Publicity Campaign’

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The National Labor Relations Board filed Thursday a complaint against Tesla alleging workers were discouraged from distributing pro-union information, stopped from talking about employee safety to the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, and stopped from photographing the confidentiality agreement they had to sign.

Tesla fired back saying the complaints were without merit.

“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,” Tesla said in a statement. “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.”

Tesla and the NLRB will appear at a hearing in November before an administrative law judge.

The complaint alleges:



Tesla security guards and human resources agents told employees that they had to leave the Fremont, California, factory premises because they were distributing pro-union leaflets.

A Human Resources Business Partner and an Environmental Health Safety and Sustainability Specialist “interrogated the employee about the employee’s Union and/or protected, concerted activities.”

Asupervisor told his employees during a pre-shift meeting that they could not distribute any stickers or pamphlets that hadn’t been approved by Tesla first, or they would be fired.



Tesla employees earlier this year began complaining of working conditions and pushing for unionization.

Here’s Tesla’s statement in full:

“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.”

 
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Tesla says "baseless":

Does that mean you would see Tesla security guards and human resources agents opening their arms and shout "Come on in. Don't leave! Yes, bring all those unions leaflets in!"

Does that mean Tesla doesn't question employees about Union activities because Tesla just loves the union so much?

Does it sound like Tesla who would just love to have a supervisor to tell employees that you will not be fired for union stickers or pamphlets and no, you don't need to be approved by Tesla first?

Do we expect the "confidentiality agreement" that employees sign would be so friendly to union activities?
 
NLRB

someone needs to do a FOIA request to get the most recent amended complaint.

But the original charging statement is pretty thin. I like Tesla's response quoted in the blog.

Unions are trying to do for Tesla what they did for GM and Chrysler!

I'm not sure which is worse, unions or car dealers.
 
Tesla’s official response to the latest effort: Tesla takes a swipe at UAW after union filed a complaint with U.S. labor board

“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.”

 
...These allegations, which have been filed by the same contingent of union organizers who have been so outspoken with media, are entirely without merit....

The Board is asking is Tesla prohibiting union activities on its ground?

If Tesla is smart, it would produce a video of Tesla employees wearing union stickers and Supervisors would open arms welcome them despite of those stickers.
 
Rookie mistake (and certainly understandable) bashing the international in the press when they are facing NRLB charges. Elon needs help from professionals who have been there and done that. Successful tactics need to be focused on the workforce, and what is legal is subtle and important. Chasing off union organizers in the parking lot is foolish-likely the union baited them into doing it the obvious, but wrong, way.

Tesla’s official response to the latest effort: Tesla takes a swipe at UAW after union filed a complaint with U.S. labor board

“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.”
 
I worked for a automobile dealership back in the 70's that was union and I will not go into detail about that process and the union representatives. All I can say is it was not a good situation for anyone and most of the meetings we had to have with the unions when I fired an employee were a joke. The unions did nothing good for there employees and most of the union dues collected at that time were stolen by the unions upper management.
 
The NLRB charge is very simple.

Suppose my neighbor complained that they witnessed that I was chasing after my screaming child my yard...

So, the charge is: Did I abuse my child?

It does not help to say that the child is not even my child: The child is actually my step child. The child is very bad because it has been taking home stickers and pamphlets that I do not like and I do not approve! And it is only reasonable to discipline the child because the child is evil.

I don't see the strategy of verbally attacking the child in public. Because doing so only supports the charge of child abuse.

So, back to the thread, the simple question from the Board is: Did Tesla Security Guards interfere with union activities on its property?
 
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  • Funny
Reactions: FlatSix911
At last, Tesla is answering the charge directly:

Tesla denies claims that it tried to block unionizing effort

Tesla claims:

1) It does not threaten pro-union workers
2) It does not prevent passing out union literature: Security guards were not interfering with union leafleting because the proof is insufficient as there's no naming of any security guard.