IG Metall says it will continue fighting for workers’ rights despite failing to win majority on employee body
Europe’s largest trade union has said it will continue to fight for the rights of workers at Elon Musk’s Tesla factory near Berlin, despite failing in its attempt to secure control of the plant’s works council.
IG Metall had hoped to gain majority rights on the elected body of employees that negotiates everything from working hours to pay deals with company management.
But after the three-day vote, which ended on Wednesday, it came second to the non-unionised group Giga United, which won 24 out of 37 seats, with IG Metall’s list securing the remaining 13 seats.
Laura Arndt, the lead candidate of the century-old union, acknowledged defeat, but said IG Metall would continue to play a close role in defending the rights of workers at the factory. “Unfortunately it was not enough to secure a … majority … we will continue to do our utmost in the new works council to bring about change for us and our colleagues at the gigafactory,” she said.
