Tesla has lodged an official complaint against a union member for allegedly making a secret recording during a recent meeting of the company’s works council in Germany, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters and cited in a report by The Economic Times titled “Tesla files complaint against union member for secretly recording works council meeting, memo shows.”
The incident reportedly took place at Tesla’s Gigafactory near Berlin, where the U.S.-based automaker has ramped up production in recent years while facing growing scrutiny from German labor unions and regulators. The complaint was filed with local authorities in Grünheide, Brandenburg, where the factory is located. Tesla accuses the union member—who also serves on the works council—of recording the proceedings of a meeting without consent from other attendees, a potential violation of German data protection and privacy laws.
Works councils, a legally mandated form of employee representation in Germany, operate independently of employers and are central to German labor relations. Under German law, the unauthorized recording of such meetings may not only breach internal regulations but also raise legal and ethical concerns. Tesla’s memo indicates the company views the act as serious misconduct that threatens the foundational trust and confidentiality necessary for effective works council operations.
The union implicated in the matter is IG Metall, one of Germany’s most powerful labor organizations. While the specific individual involved has not been publicly identified, the filing adds to the already complex and sometimes contentious relationship between Tesla and IG Metall. The union has been actively encouraging greater representation among Tesla’s workforce, citing concerns over working conditions and labor rights at the electric vehicle manufacturer’s German site.
Tesla has so far resisted formal collective bargaining agreements in Germany and other countries, opting instead for its own internal management protocols, which critics say fall short of industry norms in terms of worker protections and participation.
In response to the incident, IG Metall issued a statement defending the rights of its members while calling for transparency and accountability from all parties involved. The union did not directly comment on the specifics of the recording allegation but suggested that attempts to discredit worker representatives could undermine trust between staff and management.
This latest development follows several months of growing tension at Tesla’s German facility, where expansion plans, environmental protests, and staff dissatisfaction have made headlines. The complaint also comes at a time when Tesla faces broader labor-related pressures across its global operations, including unionization drives in the United States and regulatory inquiries in Europe.
Tesla has not issued a public comment beyond the contents of the internal memo referenced in reports. The outcome of the complaint could carry implications for how multinational companies operate within Germany’s strict labor law environment, and may influence Tesla’s evolving strategy in engaging with European unions as it continues to expand its footprint across the continent.
