The controversial tweet that Elon Musk published in 2018 related to the unions in Tesla, is back in the news after a panel of three judges considered that the publication posed a threat to the company's workers and violated the labor rights, according to Bloomberg. In March 2021, Musk was forced by the National Labor Relations Board to remove the tweet. However, the company appealed the decision and this continues to be present in the profile of the South African tycoon.
The post read: “Nothing stops the Tesla team at our auto plant from electing a union. They could tomorrow if they wanted to. But why pay union dues and give up options? on stock for nothing?Our safety record is twice as good as when the plant was with UAW and everyone has health insurance”. And Elon Musk shared it in response to a user who wanted to stand up to the manager in relation to the controversy with the unions within Tesla, such as the dismissals of workers who attempted these groupings in some of the company's factories.
One of the judges who participated in the hearing reiterated the NLRB's decision, alleging that the tweet could be interpreted as a threat. Specifically, suggesting that employees would lose the right to receive shares in Tesla if they decide to unionize. Elon Musk, on the other hand, stands by his decision and resists deleting the tweet.Tesla's lawyer commented in the session that the aforementioned publication is within the right to freedom of expression, given that it only “protects the solid discourse of an employer on the disadvantages of unionization”.
Elon Musk also faces other controversial tweets related to what s unions
Reuters
At the hearing, held on February 2, other controversial tweets that Elon Musk published in 2018 were also mentioned. One of them, in fact, is related to the unions in Tesla and is a response to another twitter user, who asked the tycoon if he really considered eliminating benefits for those unionized workers. “No, UAW does that. They want division and enforcement of the 2-class 'gents and commoners' system. That sucks […],” Musk posted in response.
Tesla's lawyer maintains that Elon Musk “ruled out any unilateral action by the company that could constitute a threat to him.”, by posting that tweet. Daniel Curry, attorney representing the United Auto Workers (UAW), however, believes the tweet represents “a threat of retaliation, not a legal expression of opinion.”
At the moment, it is unknown when the ruling will be applied in response to the sentence of the National Labor Relations Board against Elon Musk. Tesla, however, maintains its appeals.
