Tesla Workers in New York Launch Union Bid for Better Pay and Job Security

Tesla Workers in New York Launch Union Bid for Better Pay and Job Security. Employees working on Tesla’s Autopilot project at the Gigafactory in Buffalo, New York, have initiated a union push, formally announcing their bid to unionize in a letter to management. The employees are seeking better pay, job security, and protection from retaliation. They claim that the company tracks keystrokes to gauge how long employees spend on various work tasks, which can prevent them from taking bathroom breaks. The union effort, organized with Workers United Upstate New York, hopes to build a more collaborative environment that will strengthen the company.

The Buffalo Gigafactory has around 800 Autopilot analysts who identify objects in images from vehicle cameras, which helps the software recognize obstacles on the road. According to Bloomberg, pay for these workers starts at $19 per hour, but they feel pressure to work quickly and as much as possible.

The unionization effort comes despite Tesla and CEO Elon Musk’s past opposition to unions. In the past, Tesla has reportedly retaliated against union efforts, including punishing employees for wearing union clothing and instructing them not to speak about their salaries. Despite this, Musk has invited the United Auto Workers to hold a vote to unionize the company’s factory in Fremont, California, expressing faith that he pays and treats his employees well.

Zahra Lahrache, who has been working at Tesla for five months and is a part of Buffalo’s Tesla Workers United, expressed belief that unionizing will uplift not only the workforce but also the company itself. However, Tesla and Tesla Workers United have yet to comment on the union push. If successful, the unionization effort will be the first at a Tesla facility.