Tesla faces legal challenge over its technology policy

A copy of the complaint was not immediately available. But a summary provided by the NLRB says the regional director claims Tesla uses an illegal “acceptable use of technology in the workplace policy,” with rules restricting use of the technology for commercial purposes only; registration; unauthorized solicitation or promotion; use of email; store, share and send content; and create distribution channels and lists.

The regional manager claims Tesla uses this policy to discourage employees from forming or joining a union, according to the NLRB.

The regional director will seek a settlement. But if no settlement is reached, a hearing before an NLRB administrative law judge is scheduled for July 23.

The RiverBend plant has been the target of two different organizing campaigns in recent years: first by the United Steelworkers and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and, more recently, by Tesla Workers United. The United Steelworkers and United Laborers say they are now cooperating in unionizing efforts.

Shortly after Tesla Workers United went public with its campaign in February 2023, Tesla laid off more than 30 factory workers. The company claimed the layoffs were the result of poor performance reviews, while the union claimed the layoffs were retaliation for unionizing efforts. In the fall, the NLRB’s acting regional director rejected the union’s allegations about the layoffs.

Tesla recently cut jobs at the South Buffalo factory. The company announced in April that it would cut 285 jobs as part of Tesla’s workforce reductions. Then, Tesla revealed it was cutting 26 more jobs at its Buffalo factory, after the company decided to dissolve its supercharger unit that had most of its production based at the South Park Avenue factory. Tesla announced five more job cuts this week, bringing the total number of jobs cut to 316.

The recent cuts will leave Tesla with a local workforce of around 1,700 people.