Catherwood LibraryILR School

Following the NLRB’s formal accusations of unfair labor practices against Tesla, Inc. in August of this year, California Governor Edmund Gerald Brown and other state legislators have passed a statute allowing the state to withhold electric vehicle rebates for car owners should the manufacturer fail to prove that it treats its employees equitably and in accordance with fair labor standards. Many have interpreted this legislation as a direct attack on Tesla, as its Fremont factory has been a hotbed of controversy specifically regarding the wages and conditions workers have been subject to. The ULP claim against Tesla came after substantial allegations that the working conditions in the Fremont factory are hazardous for employees’ safety, that the wages of workers at the plant are significantly lower than the industry standard, and, most notably, that Tesla has been mounting an aggressive anti-union campaign against organizers from the UAW. The California government appears to be sending a clear pro-labor message in this new legislation as Tesla will be forced to comply.