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Elon Musk abruptly disbanded Tesla’s electric vehicle charging team, catching other automakers with plans to allow their EVs to use Superchargers off guard. Tesla received federal funds to expand the North American Charging Standard but critics question the future. Industry executives and an…
The National Labor Relations Board’s regional director has filed a complaint against Tesla Inc., claiming the company’s workplace technology policy at its South Buffalo plant is meant to discourage union activity.
A copy of the complaint was not immediately available. But a summary provided by the NLRB said the regional director claims Tesla is using an unlawful “acceptable use policy for workplace technology,” with rules restricting technology use for business purposes only; recording; unauthorized solicitating or promoting; email use; storing, sharing, and sending content; and creating channels and distribution lists.
The regional director contends Tesla is using the policy to discourage employees from forming or joining a union, according to the NLRB.
The NLRB’s regional director has filed a complaint over Tesla’s workplace technology rules. (Derek Gee/News file photo)
The regional director will seek a settlement. But if a settlement is not reached, a hearing before an NLRB administrative law judge is scheduled for July 23.
The RiverBend plant has been the target of two different organizing campaigns in recent years: first, by the United Steelworkers and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and, more recently, by Tesla Workers United. The Steelworkers and Workers United say they are now cooperating on organizing efforts.
Shortly after Tesla Workers United went public with its campaign in February 2023, Tesla fired more than 30 workers at the plant. The company claimed the firings stemmed from poor performance reviews, while the union claimed the firings were in retaliation for the organizing effort. In the fall, the NLRB’s acting regional director dismissed the union’s claims over the firings.
Tesla has been cutting jobs recently the South Buffalo plant. The company in April said it was cutting 285 jobs as part of cutbacks at Tesla. Then, Tesla revealed it was cutting an additional 26 jobs at its Buffalo factory, after the company decided to disband its Supercharging unit that had most of its production based at the South Park Avenue factory. Tesla disclosed another five job cuts this week, bringing the total jobs eliminated to 316.
The recent cuts will leave Tesla with a local workforce of about 1,700 people.
Matt Glynn
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Elon Musk abruptly disbanded Tesla’s electric vehicle charging team, catching other automakers with plans to allow their EVs to use Supercharg…
The NLRB’s regional director has filed a complaint over Tesla’s workplace technology rules. (Derek Gee/News file photo)
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