CNBC reports:
In 2017 and 2018, as some workers sought to form a union at the Tesla factory in Fremont, California, Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company was paying a consultancy, MWW PR, to monitor employees in a Facebook group and more broadly on social media, according to invoices and other documents reviewed by CNBC.
Two things that MWW PR watched closely were discussions alleging unfair labor practices at Tesla, and about a sexual harassment lawsuit, according to the documents describing their work.
While the records confirming Tesla’s surveillance of employees online are years old, they hold new relevance for observers seeking greater understanding of CEO Elon Musk’s priorities where social media is concerned.
Fortune reports:
After Elon Musk appeared ready to shut down Tesla’s work-from-home policy this week, union organizers representing one of its major manufacturing plants have sounded a warning to the tech mogul.
IG Metall, Germany’s largest trade union, opted to respond. In March, Tesla opened its first manufacturing plant in Europe, called Giga Berlin, in the German state of Brandenburg. “In Germany an employer cannot dictate the rules just as he likes,” said Birgit Dietze, a regional IG Metall leader, in a statement.
“A worker can rely on the strength and power of her or his union if she or he does not want to accept the demands of the company,” she added, recognizing the German constitution’s protections for labor organizing.
Tesla monitored its employees on Facebook with help of PR firm during 2017 union push https://t.co/AM4mkjkvpN
— CNBC (@CNBC) June 3, 2022
Elon Musk champions free speech, but not so much for his workers, especially ones who support a union
The NLRB found that Tesla unlawfully fired & disciplined workers for pro-union activity & unlawfully prohibited workers form speaking to the news media.https://t.co/VanFF7oTVk pic.twitter.com/mAH14TvwSz
— Steven Greenhouse (@greenhousenyt) April 26, 2022
In his latest email, Musk said that he has a “super bad feeling” about the economy. He outlined that Tesla has to cut around 10% of jobs. The EV maker has around 99,920 staff worldwide so 10% would mean nearly 10,000 jobs. pic.twitter.com/1XXTfV1bh6
— NewsBytes (@NewsBytesApp) June 3, 2022