Tesla Giga Berlin Workers Reject IG Metall Union in Works Council Election

Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin has concluded a closely watched works council election that resulted in a setback for Germany’s powerful IG Metall union. The vote determined representation for the factory’s employee council, which plays a key role in labor discussions and workplace policies.

According to German media reports, the results favored a management-aligned list, suggesting Tesla’s only European vehicle plant will likely continue operating without a traditional collective bargaining agreement.

Management-aligned group wins works council election

Employees at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Grünheide, Germany, voted to fill the factory’s 37-seat works council, with about 10,700 workers participating in the election.

The management-friendly “Giga United” list, led by works council chairwoman Michaela Schmitz, secured 40.4% of the vote, giving it the strongest representation in the council, according to CarUp.

Meanwhile, IG Metall, which had hoped to gain majority control of the council, saw its support fall to 31.1%, down from 39.4% in the previous election.

The results suggest that Tesla’s Berlin facility is likely to remain the only major automotive factory in Germany operating without a collective bargaining agreement, a point of contention between Tesla and organized labor groups in the country.

Election campaign marked by tensions at Gigafactory Berlin

The election campaign unfolded amid ongoing tensions between Tesla and IG Metall. The union had criticized working conditions at the plant in recent months, describing the workplace environment as “toxic.”

Disputes escalated in February when Tesla called police during a meeting and accused an IG Metall representative of secretly recording conversations. Authorities reportedly seized the individual’s computer during the incident, though the union disputed the accusation.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk also addressed employees ahead of the vote through a pre-recorded video message. In the video, Musk warned that the factory’s long-term expansion plans could depend on the outcome of the election.

“We will not close the factory, but realistically we will not expand either if external organizations push us in the wrong direction,” Musk said in the message to employees.

Despite the loss, IG Metall stated that it still became the second-largest group on the works council and criticized what it described as an unfair campaign environment.

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