German Union Files Defamation Complaint Against Tesla Factory Manager

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 souring relations with the U.S. automaker.

The union said it had also applied to a labor court for a temporary injunction to prohibit Andre Thierig from further making the allegations. Tesla did not respond immediately to an emailed request for comment.

The matter relates to a criminal complaint that Tesla made last week against an IG Metall member 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 Metall said on Tuesday it was also preparing a lawsuit against the company for obstruction of union activities.

“Legal disputes are not our preferred form of dispute resolution,” said union representative Jan Otto in a statement. “But when a company fights workers’ participation and union work so aggressively, we defend ourselves with all means at our disposal, including legal ones.”

(Reporting by Linda Pasquini; additional reporting by Ilona Wissenbach; editing by Mark Potter)

Photograph: The Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg plant is seen on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (Patrick Pleul/dpa via AP)