German authorities have initiated an investigation into an IG Metall union representative following allegations of a secret recording made during a confidential works council meeting at Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin. The inquiry comes in response to a criminal complaint lodged by Tesla management last week.
According to a report from rbb24, law enforcement officials seized a laptop belonging to an IG Metall member on Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutors in Frankfurt (Oder) confirmed they are looking into the possibility of unauthorized audio recordings from the internal meeting. Under German law, such recordings without consent can lead to criminal charges.
Tesla reported that employees at Gigafactory Berlin alerted management after discovering that an external union representative, present as a guest, had recorded the session. André Thierig, the plant manager, stated on social media platform X that the representative was “caught in action,” which prompted Tesla to notify the police and file the complaint. The seized device is now part of the investigation, and authorities will assess whether any illegal recording did occur.
In response to the allegations, IG Metall has denied any wrongdoing. Representatives from the union characterized Tesla’s claims as a tactic intended to influence upcoming works council elections. The elections at Tesla’s Grünheide plant are scheduled for March 2–4, 2026, with approximately 11,000 employees eligible to vote. Regular works council elections in Germany occur every four years, typically between March and May.
The incident reflects ongoing tensions between Tesla and organized labor in Germany. Although works councils operate independently of unions, IG Metall has been actively involved at the plant and has previously criticized Tesla’s labor practices.
Authorities have yet to announce whether formal charges will be filed, but the investigation remains active. As this dispute unfolds, it highlights the complexities of labor relations within the rapidly evolving electric vehicle industry in Germany.
