– They don’t seem interested in how I’m doing. They are only interested in whether I will return to work. So the impression is that I either have to come back and work even if I’m in pain, or I won’t be allowed to work at Tesla. Feeling pressured That’s what a technician who works at a Tesla workshop in Norway says. The man wants to remain anonymous – he is on sick leave and feels pressured by management. He recently joined the Fellesforbundet. He knows that Tesla doesn’t want unions, but believes he needs protection so he doesn’t lose his job. – My manager says “you’ve been sitting at home for too long, now we have to do something about this”, even though I’m in great pain and am on triple medication. The technician’s impression is that the management does not believe that he needs sick leave. Tesla will not enter into agreements with trade unions, and the company is not organized on the employer side either. Photo: Siri Vålberg Saugstad / Siri Vålberg Saugstad Since August, news has contacted Tesla to get comments, so also in this case. We have not received an answer. In Sweden, IFMetall-organized Tesla employees and their supporters have been on strike since the end of October to get a collective agreement with Tesla. In a statement, Tesla management says it sees no reason to sign collective agreements. Tesla management has stated that there will be no consequences if employees organize, but founder Elon Musk has previously come out hard against unions. In February, 30 organized employees who wanted to enlist more were fired from their jobs in Buffalo. In 2018, Musk is said to have tweeted that trade unions should lose Tesla shares. – Contact us out of fear news has spoken to the nine departments in the Swedish Confederation of Swedish Trade Unions that have Tesla in their catchment area. They say that few of Tesla’s approximately 500 workshop employees in Norway are organized. Certain departments still spend a lot on Tesla employees and their problems. Oskar Lindøe in the Swedish Federation’s branch in Oslo and Akershus has few members at Tesla, those who want to become members are afraid of losing their jobs. Photo: Private – It is not to get a collective agreement Tesla employees contact us – it is out of fear. They are afraid of dismissal, says Oskar E. Lindøe, leader of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions in Oslo and Akershus: – Do Tesla employees have more reason to fear dismissal than other workshop employees? – We have had seven dismissal cases with Tesla in recent years. This is a higher number than other workshops. If you look at the low number of members we have in Tesla, the company is overrepresented, Lindøe points out. He assures the Confederation will help the Tesla technician on sick leave: – No one should lose their job because they are on sick leave in Norway. The joint union has few members from Tesla, but the company is overrepresented in the number of dismissal cases, says Oskar Lindøe Photo: Siri Vålberg Saugstad / Siri Vålberg Saugstad Lindøe believes it is “absolutely incredible” that Tesla has a policy that organizing is not desirable either for employees or employer side. – Tesla employees who join the Union do not want anyone to know, they want to keep it a secret from the management and from their colleagues. It says something about how toxic Tesla’s attitude is. Requires creativity The level of conflict is also high in Drammen. Deputy chairman of the Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions, Runar Landsverk, has had 10 cases of sick leave and dismissals in recent years. Runar Landsverk in the Federation’s branch in Drammen and Kongsberg believes that Tesla makes life more difficult for those on sick leave. Photo: Siri Vålberg Saugstad / Siri Vålberg Saugstad – When it comes to dismissal, employees are called to a meeting quite suddenly. There they are told that “we have no use for you, you don’t work”. Several are offered three months’ salary if they hand over the keys and go home on the day, says Landsverk. If the employee declines, a process follows and then Tesla does what is required according to Norwegian law, emphasizes Landsverk. But Tesla also provides its own assessment forms – a so-called PIP, or Performance improvement plan. news has seen the forms that measure the performance of Tesla employees. A mechanic at a Norwegian Tesla workshop is graded unacceptable/poor in the list that assesses his ability to demonstrate excellence. Photo: Fellesforbundet The following requirements are set under the section “demonstrates excellence”: takes on tough problems thinks creatively and solves problems, doesn’t just repeat what has been done before flexible, handles ambiguity well experiments, tests and learns committed to Tesla’s mission focused on the customer proactive – stands for action communicates bad news quickly and loudly very determined and resilient creative and resourceful, makes a lot out of little takes ownership and responsibility high productivity and production, and is hardworking values quality work actively participates in continuous safety and health improvements In a note below the form the car mechanic is described as someone who gets into trouble if he is put on different tasks than those he is used to. The manager ticks off that the target achievement is “unacceptable/bad”. – Must be like Musk The technician on sick leave we meet is excited about what his “PIP” will look like and not least what he will get in points from the Tesla management. One has to be in line with Elon Musk to get the top grade 5 in Tesla’s internal rating system, claims the anonymous Tesla technician. Photo: AFP – You can get from 1 to 5 points. If you get 1 then you are fired, 2 means you have to work on yourself. If you can’t do it, you’re fired. So you must be between 3 and 4. 5 is impossible, then you are Elon Musk! Runar Landsverk and Oskar Lindøe think PIP and the points go on the nose factor. – The requirements are so vague that it is impossible to know whether you meet them, says Landsverk. The technician on sick leave had experience from other car workshops when he applied for a job at Tesla. – Most people have an electric car and Tesla is popular, so I thought it was a safe future. That was sort of what I had in mind when I applied for a job there. – What are you thinking now? – When I see the cases that are taking place and how people are treated, I feel a bit disgusted. I think: Was this wise? HeiNRK puts the spotlight on Norway’s best-selling car company. Do you work for Tesla and have any tips? Then I would like to hear from you
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Tesla employees organize in secret – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
