Unions press for place with Tesla

[Starry Messenger]

http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Unions-press-for-place-with-Tesla-5109708.php#page-1

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The Fremont factory where Tesla builds its Model S sedan used to be a union shop, back when it was run by a joint venture of General Motors and Toyota Motor Corp. It closed in 2010, and from the day it reopened under Tesla's banner, its employees have worked without union representation.

That could change. The United Auto Workers union has expressed interest in organizing Tesla's plant. UAW President Bob King told an auto industry website that the union had set up an organizing committee at the factory. Union representatives had also met with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, King said in August.

Unions have been a dominant force in the U.S. auto industry for decades. But they've never made inroads in Silicon Valley's high-tech workforce, despite several attempts. Even in the 1980s and 1990s, when the area boasted more manufacturing jobs than it does today, organizing efforts rarely went far.

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Musk's opinions on unionization aren't clear. When he announced the Fremont factory's purchase from Toyota, Musk told The Chronicle that "on the question of the union, we're neutral." The facility, formerly known as the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (Nummi) plant, closed in April 2010, only to be purchased by Tesla less than two months later.

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There's a DUer who posts about Tesla issues on DU, I hope he sees this and chimes in.

[lostincalifornia]

1. This assumes there is a need for a union at the Tesla plant. It depends on how Musk run his

operation. Southwest Airlines I believe is non union. They are an employee owned business. Everyone who works there is an owner. It seems to work for them. I do not know how Musk runs his business, but I do know he does not want to sell his cars through middle men, which is why dealers in states such as Texas will not allow his cars to be sold in their state unless it is through a dealer.

It really depends on what the workers want. If they feel they are getting a good deal with Musk then I suspect they won't vote to unionize, otherwise they well.

I would be interested to know if the workers feel they need a union or not at the Fremont plant

[Omaha Steve]

4. Southwest has several unions

Pilots (SWAPA), members of Ground OPS (TWU 555), Reservations/Customer Service (IAM 142), and the Flight Attendants (TWU 556) and other smaller ones.

Even employee owned operations have a need for a union.

OS

[lostincalifornia]

5. Not saying they don't, just saying it is up to the employees

[Omaha Steve]

11. Having a union or not is ALWAYS up to the employees

It is by simple majority vote by just the employees that are eligible for union representation . 50% + one. Same thing to vote a union out.

[NYC_SKP]

2. I'm willing to believe Musk. His Solar City employees are paid very well, but aren't union.

Musk once said:

Part of the problem with Detroit, he says, is the union system. “It’s not out of the question to have unions, but if there’s going to be a union, they’d better understand that they’re on the same side as the company,” he added. “I’m against having a two-class system where you’ve got the workers and then the managers, sort of like nobles and peasants…

“Most of our experienced factory workers come from unionized environments, and we asked them what benefit did they see in unions,” he added. “They said, ‘Well, if their boss was an asshole, they had recourse.’

“I said, ‘Let’s make a rule: There will be no assholes.’ I fired someone for being an asshole. And I only had to do that once, actually.”

http://www.wired.com/business/2009/06/elon-musk-on-the-inevitability-of-the-ev-running-detroit-and-firing-a-certain-someone/

IOW, I don't know.

[Starry Messenger]

3. I know people who've worked for him at other companies.

I'm interested to see how this plays out.

[CatholicEdHead]

6. Unions came about because management wanted the two class system

management and labor. The best case like you post is that labor and management works together, but more often than not it is a cold to hot war between management and labor, hence the need for unions to counterbalance capital.

[NYC_SKP]

7. A third way is employee ownership.

This is the model I'd most like to see expanded.

http://www.nceo.org/articles/employee-ownership-100

[Starry Messenger]

8. Tesla is not going to be employee-owned.

Trust me.

[NYC_SKP]

9. No, that wasn't what I was suggesting at all.

In the context of the subthread that pitted one against the other.

Musk is more of a benevolent capitalist.

None of his employees, none of the ones that I know at least, are unhappy working there and nobody I've known has left.

[Starry Messenger]

10. Hmm.

Well, like I said, I know some people who've worked for him too. He must show different sides to different people. It happens.