Dozens of Tesla workers fired at Giga New York after launching union campaign

According to a recent lawsuit filed with the US National Labor Relations Board, Tesla has fired dozens of workers at the Giga New York factory as a result of a fresh unionization drive that was launched this week.

As previously reported, employees at the Giga New York factory, where roughly a thousand people are currently employed declared their intention to unionize. The initiative was started by data labelers who want higher compensation, job security, and less monitoring. 

Workers United, a well-known organization that has unionized employees at hundreds of Starbucks outlets, is in support of the action. As well, they intend to unionize the 1,000 manufacturing workers at the factory near Buffalo.

According to a statement filed by Workers United to the US National Labor Relations Board, Tesla fired thousands of workers at the facility after they launched the union campaign on Feb. 13, including those who were connected to the unionization attempt.

Workers United activist Jaz Brisack, who is involved in the Tesla union effort at the factory, had the following response to the layoffs: “This is a type of group retaliation against the workers who initiated this organizing movement. The terminations aim to try to thin out the herd but also frighten everyone about the potential repercussions of them assembling.”

Tesla has had prior issues with the US National Labor Relations Board, particularly for firing employees in connection with union organizing activities.

The National Labor Relations Board concluded in 2021 that Tesla had broken the law by terminating a worker for what they claimed to be union support, and because of a tweet from Elon Musk, in which he said that staff who were unionized would lose their stock options as part of their remuneration.

Did you enjoy this article? Please share your thoughts, comments, or questions regarding this topic by connecting with us at newsroom@cbtnews.com.