Tesla Employee Says Workers Contacted UAW About Organizing Plant | Bloomberg

Tesla Inc. workers at its only auto plant have contacted the United Auto Workers seeking assistance with forming a union, according to a Medium post by a man claiming to be a factory employee.

“I think our management team would agree that our plant doesn’t function as well as it could, but until now they’ve underestimated the value of listening to employees,” wrote Jose Moran, who identifies himself as a worker for the past four years at the plant in Fremont, California. “We need better organization in the plant, and I, along with many of my coworkers, believe we can achieve that by coming together and forming a union.”

Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk is preparing Tesla’s Model S and Model X electric vehicle factory to begin producing the more affordable Model 3 sedan around July. The Palo Alto, California-based company has told investors in regulatory filings that its business may be adversely affected by higher costs or work stoppages related to union activities.

“Although we work diligently to provide the best possible work environment for our employees, they may still decide to join or seek recognition to form a labor union, or we may be required to become a union signatory,” the company said within the risk factors listed in its most recent annual report.

Representatives for Tesla and the United Auto Workers didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment on the Medium post. Bergen Kenny, a consultant to labor unions with San Francisco-based Storefront Political Media, sent the Medium post to Bloomberg News.

Tesla manufactures all of its vehicles from the plant in Fremont. The company delivered about 76,000 cars worldwide last year and aims to produce 500,000 annually by 2018.

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