A heated dispute between Tesla Giga Berlin and the IG Metall union has sparked an investigation, with allegations of a secret recording at a confidential works council meeting. German authorities are now probing an IG Metall representative, following a criminal complaint filed by Tesla management.
The incident occurred at Tesla's Gigafactory in Berlin, where police seized a laptop belonging to an IG Metall member on Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutors in Frankfurt (Oder) confirmed the investigation, citing a possible unauthorized audio recording of an internal meeting.
Under German law, recording non-public meetings without consent is a serious offense. Tesla claims that employees discovered an external union representative recording the session, and plant manager André Thierig stated that the representative was caught in the act.
The seized laptop is now a key piece of evidence, and authorities will determine if any unlawful recording took place. IG Metall, however, denies the accusation, describing Tesla's allegation as an election tactic ahead of upcoming works council elections.
The election at Tesla's Grünheide plant is scheduled for March 2-4, 2026, with over 11,000 employees eligible to vote. This incident adds fuel to the tensions between Tesla and organized labor in Germany, with IG Metall previously criticizing Tesla's labor practices.
But here's where it gets controversial... Authorities have yet to announce any charges, leaving the investigation open-ended.
What do you think? Is this a case of union interference or a strategic move by Tesla? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
