Tesla’s German employees demand better working conditions

Tesla’s German employees demand better working conditions

Automotive News Europe — 2025-03-20

Automotive Industry

Tesla employees in Germany are demanding better working conditions, putting pressure on the Elon Musk-led manufacturer that is contending with a sales slump in Europe’s biggest auto market.

More than 3,000 workers at Tesla’s plant near Berlin have signed a petition asking for more breaks, better staffing and an end to management’s intimidation tactics, the IG Metall union said.

Employees have long been overworked and will have to shoulder too much once Tesla ramps up output of the redesigned Model Y after reworking assembly lines, unionists said.

“There often isn’t even time to drink or go to the toilet,” IG Metall members of Tesla’s works council said in a statement. “No one can keep going like this until they retire.”

Tesla’s reputation in Europe’s largest economy has deteriorated since Musk endorsed the right-wing AfD party during the German election campaign and became a top adviser to President Donald Trump. The automaker’s registrations fell 44% in Europe and 76% in Germany in February.

Tesla also had to contend with attacks on surrounding railway infrastructure. Last year, Musk said he was looking into high rates of absenteeism at the plant in the small town of Grünheide.

It’s unclear if union members will succeed in changing conditions at the plant. IG Metall members form the largest single group on Tesla’s work’s council but do not have a majority.

Tesla said it had asked around 7,500 of the plant’s roughly 11,000 workers in a survey whether they were satisfied with their jobs. About 80% of staff said they were, according to a statement by Tesla, with 5% of respondents saying they were unhappy and the rest neutral.

Tesla said it has given 300 temporary workers permanent contracts from next month to handle the added workload from the ramp up of the Model Y.