Tesla is accused of terminating more than 30 employees at its Buffalo, New York plant a day after some workers there announced an effort to unionize.
In a complaint filed with the National Labor Relations Board, the Workers United union claimed Tesla illegally dismissed some employees “in retaliation for union activity and to discourage union activity.”
- Several of the employees who were let go were involved in the union activity and discussions, including one who was on the organizing committee, according to Workers United.
- The union is seeking an injunction from a federal court to further protect employee rights. Under federal law, retaliating against union organizing is illegal.
- The roughly 800 workers, who are analysts working on Autopilot driver-assistance technology at the plant, launched a campaign earlier this week and asked Tesla to sign the Fair Election Principles.
- They are seeking higher pay, better job security, and less monitoring and production pressure. Pay in the positions reportedly starts at $19 an hour.
- The group is backed by Workers United, which also helped to unionize hundreds of Starbucks cafes in the U.S.
