Tesla workers in New York have launched a union campaign, hoping to turn the company’s Buffalo factory into the first unionized workplace. This Valentine’s Day, Tesla employees finally seem to be making the move to love themselves.
Bloomberg News reports(opens in new tab), Tesla workers emailed Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Tuesday to inform them of their plans to form a union. The union campaign was launched by Tesla Workers United.(opens in new tab), a group of Tesla factory workers in Buffalo, working in partnership with Workers United Upstate New York. Workers United previously helped form the first Starbucks Union in the United States.(opens in new tab)is also in Buffalo.
“We believe that having a union at Tesla will advance our sustainability mission and foster a progressive environment for all of us,” Tesla Workers United wrote in an open letter.
“Trade union formation will further accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy because it gives us a voice in our workplaces and in the goals we set to achieve. Having greater sustainability in our own work lives and personal well-being translates into greater sustainability starts with us because of our ability to achieve these goals I strongly believe that.”
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By forming a union, Tesla Workers United hopes to be able to advocate for higher wages, job security and better working conditions. But they are now asking Tesla to sign the Fair Election Principles as a first step. It declares that the company will not retaliate against workers for organizing, will not hinder or interfere in the election process, and will give unions time to hold meetings and distribute information.
As of this writing, Tesla has not officially responded to Tesla Workers United’s request. Mashable has reached out to Tesla and Tesla Workers United for comment.
Tesla promises not to be anti-union after Musk’s threatening tweet
“As field staff, we know what drives this company and what changes will help improve both our work and our company,” writes Tesla Workers United.(opens in new tab) “We have the right to negotiate union contracts, and we have the right to negotiate organizational policies, staffing levels, job rights, health and safety conditions, protection from unfair dismissal and unfair discipline, seniority rights, and vacation rights. have a real say in setting the benefits, wages, etc.”
These are all concerns at the best of times, but Tesla Workers United’s unionization efforts are particularly urgent.The organizing committee is made up of employees who label data to train Tesla’s Autopilot technology.(opens in new tab) — The work CEO Elon Musk has been passionate about automating, calling such technology the “Holy Grail.” Last June, Tesla laid off more than 200 of his Autopilot employees.(opens in new tab).
Tesla Workers United is also working to organize manufacturing workers at the Buffalo factory to help them benefit too.
Unfortunately, neither Tesla nor Musk(opens in new tab) Not a big fan of trade unions. In 2019, a California judge ruled that Tesla had violated national labor laws.(opens in new tab) By sabotaging the workers’ unionization efforts at the Fremont factory. This includes banning employees from distributing leaflets or wearing pro-union badges, interrogating workers who are unionized, and retaliating by unfairly dismissing workers. was included.
The judge further found that Musk himself was unlawfully involved in unfair labor practices. Specifically, in his tweets that hinted that if an employee joins a union, he will have to give up his stock options.
All in all, it’s fair to say that Tesla Workers United have a tough fight ahead of them.
