Tesla's Berlin plant elects works council without union backing
Tesla's Gigafactory near Berlin just picked a new works council, with non-union lists winning 24 of 37 seats and IG Metall holding 13 seats.
Nearly 90% of roughly 10,700 employees voted, choosing Giga United (led by Michaela Schmitz) to lead the charge instead of Germany's big union, IG Metall.
IG Metall alleges Tesla used pressure tactics during vote
This keeps the plant in Germany without a collective bargaining agreement, though any effect on product launches or production speed is speculative, especially as Chinese competitors ramp up.
But it's not all smooth: workers still have concerns about pay and sick leave.
IG Metall claims Tesla tried to sway votes with pressure tactics, but Giga United's win signals a shift toward a different style of workplace representation in an industry known for strong unions.