Tesla and unions

Tesla, Inc. is an American electric car manufacturer which as of January 2024 employs over 140,000 workers across its global operations, none of whom are unionized. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has commented negatively on trade unions in relation to Tesla. Despite allegations of high injury rates, long hours, and below-industry pay, efforts to unionize the workforce have been largely unsuccessful. As of February 2024, there are active labor disputes with Tesla in the United States, Germany and Sweden.

Tesla is the only major American auto manufacturer not represented by a union in the US as of January 2024. None of the unionization attempts between 2016–2023 by United Auto Workers (UAW), United Steelworkers (USW), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and Workers United were successful. Complaints were filed against Tesla in all the campaigns for retaliation firings, but only one complaint was upheld.

In Germany, Tesla and Tesla Automation's non-union status and lower wages compared to industry standards weakens the power of the metalworkers' union IG Metall. Tesla concluded a pay-related works agreement with Tesla Automation's Works Council, while refusing to sign a collective agreement with IG Metall. In January 2023, IG Metall called for an investigation into Tesla over allegations of long working hours and forced non-disclosure agreements.