The United Auto Workers union has filed federal labor charges against former President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk for intimidating workers who go on strike. During an interview with Musk, Trump praised him for his anti-union stances and implied that workers who go on strike would be fired. The UAW filed separate charges against Trump and Musk claiming that they interfered with employees exercising their right to organize against the company.
UAW president Shawn Fain, a harsh critic of Trump, has accused both Trump and Musk of wanting working-class people to remain silent. He praised President Joe Biden for joining a picket line during a UAW strike against major automakers and has singled out Tesla as a target for union organizing efforts. Fain called Trump a “scab” and criticized both him and Musk for their attempts to silence workers. Tesla, Trump, and the NLRB did not respond to requests for comment on the charges.
It is unlikely that Musk or Trump will face significant penalties if found to have violated labor laws, and any action could take a long time to resolve. The NLRB will first investigate the charges and could attempt to settle the case or sue Trump and Musk on behalf of the UAW. If found guilty, Trump and Musk would likely be ordered to stop their behavior and compensate wrongfully terminated employees. However, it is unclear if Trump was referencing any specific workers that Musk fired for organizing against Tesla.
Musk has had previous run-ins with the NLRB, as the board accused Tesla of illegally restricting technology in the workplace to discourage workers from organizing in a Buffalo, New York factory. The NLRB’s actions against Tesla and Musk have been a part of ongoing efforts to hold companies accountable for violating labor laws. Harris’ campaign highlighted the clip of Trump praising Musk for firing workers on strike, further bringing attention to the issue of workers’ rights and labor practices in the auto industry.
Unions like the UAW continue to face challenges in organizing non-union automakers like Tesla due to aggressive tactics and outspoken opposition to unionization from company leaders. Musk and Tesla have managed to keep unionizing efforts at bay through various strategies, including granting factory workers stock options. The situation between Tesla, Trump, and the UAW highlights ongoing tensions surrounding workers’ rights and labor practices within the auto industry, with the outcomes of the charges filed against Trump and Musk remaining uncertain.
