Germany’s IG Metall has filed a criminal complaint against the manager of Tesla’s factory near Berlin, accusing him of “spreading false allegations”, the union said on Tuesday, in another sign of its strained relationship with the US carmaker.
The union said it had also applied to the Labor Court for a temporary injunction to prevent Andre Therig from making further allegations. Tesla did not immediately respond to an email request for comment.
The case is related to a criminal complaint Tesla filed last week against a member of IG Metal for allegedly secretly recording a works council meeting at the plant, according to a memo to staff seen by Reuters. Tesla has confirmed the memo.
IG Metal said on Tuesday that it is also preparing a case against the company for obstructing union activities.
“Legal disputes are not our preferred form of dispute resolution,” union representative John Otto said in a statement. “But when a company fights worker participation and union work so aggressively, we defend ourselves in every way we can, including legally.”
(Reporting by Linda Pasquini; Additional reporting by Alona Weissenbach; Editing by Mark Potter)
Photo: The Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg plant is seen on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. (Patrick Pleul/dpa via AP)
