Investigation against Tesla Plant Manager: Conflict with IG Metall Goes to Prosecutor's Office

The German judiciary has taken legal steps to clarify the escalating dispute at the Tesla Gigafactory near Berlin. As reported by a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office in Frankfurt (Oder), an investigation has been launched against André Thierig, the plant manager, on suspicion of defamation. The complaint was filed by the powerful trade union IG Metall, which has been in sharp conflict with the American electric car manufacturer for months. The triggering event was a works council meeting, during which a union representative was accused of secretly and unauthorizedly recording the proceedings. These allegations led to mutual criminal accusations. This situation is another episode in the struggle over the management model in Grünheide, where work methods imposed by Elon Musk are meeting strong resistance from German union structures, traditionally holding a strong position in the automotive industry. Since the factory opened in 2022, Tesla in Germany has faced criticism regarding working conditions, safety, and reluctance to sign collective agreements. Conflicts between American corporate culture and the German co-determination model (Mitbestimmung) are a constant feature of the company's operations in Europe. It is worth noting that the prosecutor's office is conducting proceedings on two tracks, also examining reports from the company side against union activists. Media emphasize that the dispute has taken on an ideological character, polarizing public opinion between supporters of Tesla's innovative approach and defenders of workers' rights. Investigators are currently analyzing the collected evidence to assess whether there has been a violation of criminal law in the context of protecting the reputation and privacy of meeting participants.