Tesla New York state workers said Tuesday they are launching a campaign to form a union, the latest labor challenge to the CEO. Elon Musk.
In a letter to the electric automaker’s management, employees announced plans to merge with the United Upstate New York Workers.
The alliance, if formed, would be a first for Tesla, which has so far tried to avoid consolidation at US facilities unlike other major automakers.
Musk has previously spoken out about his opposition to unions and was met with outrage from the US National Labor Relations Board when it directed him to delete a 2018 tweet that said employees would lose their rights. choose to buy shares if they form a union.
“We believe the consolidation will give us a voice in the workplace that we feel has been ignored up to this point,” the workers said in a press release on Tuesday. “We just asked for a seat in the car we helped build.”
The letter, first reported by Bloomberg News earlier in the day, cited employees asking Tesla to respect their right to unionize and calling on the world’s most valuable automaker to sign the Principles of Public Elections. equal.
Employees say the right to union is a basic civil right and the principles will prevent Tesla from threatening or retaliating against workers for unionizing.
“We, as workers, deserve fair labor negotiations with our employers and there are many changes that I would like to see in Tesla for the benefit of our workers.” Alexis Hy, a Tesla employee, said in a statement. declare.
Tesla did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
