German prosecutors investigate Tesla’s Grünheide plant head over union’s defamation complaint amid escalating labour tensions before works council elections.

FRANKFURT AN DER ODER: Prosecutors have launched a preliminary investigation into the head of Tesla’s German plant following a criminal complaint by the IG Metall union.

The probe targets André Thierig, senior director at the US carmaker’s only European factory in Grünheide, over allegations of defamation.

This development marks the latest escalation in a protracted labour dispute at the facility. It comes just weeks before staff are due to elect a new works council in early March.

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Tesla has long clashed with IG Metall, which represents workers across German industry. The union has been pushing for a collective wage agreement for the plant’s roughly 11,000 employees since production launched in 2022.

The union’s complaint followed a separate criminal case filed by Tesla against a union representative. Management alleges the representative illegally recorded a session of the Tesla works council earlier this month.

Prosecutors have also initiated preliminary investigations into that man for suspected breach of confidentiality and violation of labour laws.

IG Metall rejected Tesla’s accusations, describing them as a smear campaign. The company called the police, who interrupted the February 10 meeting and seized the man’s laptop.

 The Sun Malaysia