Tesla is inching closer to achieving final approval for its Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg in Grünheide, and in a new update, the company is seeking the election of a new works council – but not without some concerns.
Tesla is looking to set up a works council in Germany, though it’s apparently causing representational concerns for the country’s largest union, IG Metall, according to Automotive News Europe.
According to IG Metall, seven non-union Tesla employees called a meeting on Monday to discuss picking out a committee to hold elections for a works council, which would remain in that position for two years minimum.
Tesla setting up a works council so soon risks being unrepresentative of the company as a whole, said IG Metall, also explaining that the vast majority of currently-hired works are middle and upper management positions.
Tesla Shares Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg County Fair Video in 4K https://t.co/yMCmbX7ZtY
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Still, the works council is supposed to be dedicated to employees across the company hierarchy for the utmost fairness.
Head of IG Metall’s Berlin-Brandenburg-Saxony Office Birgit Dietze said, “We’re happy there’s been a starting shot.” Dietze continued, “What is important is that the workers’ council is really there for all employees … for us it’s a little too soon.”
German labor laws also hold that employees are required to be at a company for more than six months before gaining the ability to run in a works council election.
