The situation at Tesla's German factory near Berlin has deteriorated sharply. The powerful trade union IG Metall has filed a criminal complaint against the plant director, André Thierig. The dispute involves allegations of defamation and attempts to intimidate workers ahead of upcoming works council elections. The conflict escalated after management accused a staff member of illegally recording meetings.

Defamation Lawsuit

The IG Metall union has accused factory director André Thierig of spreading false information harming employees.

Dispute Over Illegal Recordings

Tesla management accuses union members of secretly recording a works council meeting, which became the flashpoint of the conflict.

Application to Labor Court

An application for an interim injunction was filed with the court in Frankfurt (Oder) to prevent management from making further accusations.

The escalating conflict at Tesla's Grünheide factory near Berlin has entered the legal arena. The German trade union IG Metall announced it has filed a criminal complaint against the plant director, André Thierig. The allegations concern defamation and spreading false information aimed at damaging the reputation of workers and the union. The case has been referred to the public prosecutor's office and the Labor Court in Frankfurt (Oder), where the union is seeking an interim injunction to prevent further dissemination of harmful claims. The immediate trigger for the latest phase of the dispute is an accusation made by factory management against an employee. Tesla claims that a member of the works council secretly recorded a meeting, which would constitute a violation of regulations. The union categorically denies these reports, considering them a deliberate manipulation intended to discredit the employee side weeks before planned works council elections. Jan Otto, regional leader of IG Metall, emphasized that the organization aims to clarify the matter quickly and clear the employee of the allegations. Tesla's Brandenburg factory, opened in 2022, has faced tensions between management and trade unions from the start. Elon Musk's management model, resistant to traditional European employee representation structures, has repeatedly clashed with the strong position of German unions. Market observers note that the legal battle is part of a broader struggle for influence at Tesla's only European production plant. The Einstweilige Verfügung (interim injunction) sought by the union is intended as a warning to management against taking further steps violating union freedoms. The atmosphere in Grünheide remains tense, and the outcome of the court battle in Frankfurt (Oder) could determine the nature of labor relations across Germany's electric mobility sector. „Our interest is for the criminal proceedings initiated by Tesla against an IG Metall employee to be concluded quickly.” — Jan Otto Number of articles on the conflict in media: Le Figaro: 1, Stern: 1, Süddeutsche Zeitung: 1, Wirtschafts Woche: 1, Handelsblatt: 1 Key stages of the legal dispute: February 17, 2026 — IG Metall files defamation complaint; March 2026 — Works council elections at Grünheide factory

Mentioned People

  • André Thierig — Director of the Tesla factory in Grünheide, against whom a criminal complaint has been filed.
  • Jan Otto — Regional leader of the IG Metall union for Berlin, Brandenburg, and Saxony.
  • Elon Musk — Owner and CEO of Tesla.