In an announcement posted to its web site titled “In Response to False Allegations,” Tesla stated it recognized impacted workers 10 days earlier than the unionization plans have been introduced, and that it solely realized “in hindsight” that one of many 27 workers recognized as a part of the union. Plans to layoff workers the week of February twelfth have been apparently communicated to managers in December final 12 months.
“Tesla conducts efficiency overview cycles each six months,” Tesla wrote in its assertion, “If an worker fails to satisfy their efficiency expectations they are going to be let go.” It added that it’s “categorically false” that workers are pressured to delay toilet breaks, one of many allegations previously reported by Bloomberg.
Tesla Employees United, the personnel making an attempt to unionize in Buffalo, didn’t instantly reply to The Verge’s request for remark. Makes an attempt to contact Tesla when the allegations first surfaced went unanswered. The corporate is broadly reported to have disbanded its press relations workforce in 2020.
Nevertheless, one Gigafactory 2 worker who was a part of the union organizing committee stated they was instructed they have been “exceeding expectations” previous to being fired by Tesla. “I bought covid and was out of the workplace, then I needed to take a bereavement go away. I returned to work, was instructed I used to be exceeding expectations after which Wednesday got here alongside,” Arian Berek stated in a Employees United press launch despatched to The Verge following the layoffs. “I strongly really feel that is in retaliation to the committee announcement and it’s shameful.”