GRÜNHEIDE, GERMANY – Tensions between Tesla regarding its Giga Berlin facility and the powerful German trade union IG Metall have escalated sharply following a dramatic incident on Tuesday involving police intervention and allegations of espionage. The electric vehicle manufacturer has accused an external representative of the union of secretly recording a confidential works council meeting, a claim that has triggered a criminal complaint and the seizure of hardware by local authorities.
The confrontation occurred just weeks before the highly anticipated works council elections scheduled for March 2026, adding a volatile layer to what was already expected to be a contentious campaigning period. While Tesla management portrays the incident as a severe breach of trust and law, IG Metall has firmly denied the allegations, characterizing the company’s response as a strategic maneuver designed to influence the upcoming employee vote.
This clash highlights the deepening friction between the American automaker’s corporate culture and the established traditions of German labor relations. As police examine the seized evidence and both sides entrench their positions, the incident at Giga Berlin serves as a flashpoint in the broader struggle for influence over the factory’s 11,000-strong workforce.
Police Seize Equipment Following Allegations
The incident unfolded on a Tuesday afternoon inside the sprawling Giga Berlin complex. According to Tesla management, an external representative from IG Metall, who was attending a works council meeting, was allegedly caught in the act of recording the internal proceedings. The discovery prompted immediate action from the factory’s security and management teams.
André Thierig, the plant manager for Gigafactory Berlin, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his outrage regarding the situation. In a post dated February 10, 2026, Thierig described the representative’s actions as unprecedented and a violation of the sanctity of the works council’s confidential deliberations.
“What has happened today at Giga Berlin is truly beyond words! An external union representative from IG Metall attended a works council meeting. For unknown reasons he recorded the internal meeting and was caught in action! We obviously called police and filed a criminal complaint!”
Following the call from Tesla employees, officers from the local police force arrived at the facility. Local news outlet rbb24 confirmed that law enforcement officials seized a computer belonging to the IG Metall member in question. The seizure of property suggests that authorities are treating the complaint with seriousness, as the unauthorized recording of non-public speech is a criminal offense under German law.
The specific details of how the alleged recording was discovered remain undisclosed, but the swift involvement of law enforcement indicates that Tesla is pursuing a zero-tolerance approach to what it perceives as corporate espionage or a violation of privacy rights within its factory walls.
IG Metall Denies Wrongdoing
In the wake of the accusations, IG Metall—one of the world’s largest and most influential industrial unions—issued a swift and categorical denial. The union maintains that its representative did not make any recordings of the meeting and argues that the allegations are baseless.
Representatives for the union have suggested that the timing of the accusation is suspicious, pointing to the proximity of the works council elections. In a statement responding to the incident, the union framed Tesla’s actions as a tactical disruption intended to discredit union officials and sway employee sentiment ahead of the vote.
“This is a transparent tactic,” a source close to the union leadership suggested, implying that the dramatic escalation involving police was a calculated move to damage the reputation of IG Metall candidates. The union asserts that their representatives are well-versed in German labor law and the strict confidentiality rules governing works council meetings, making such a violation unlikely and out of character.
The denial sets the stage for a potential legal battle alongside the public relations war. If the police investigation reveals no evidence of a recording on the seized computer, the union may have grounds to claim defamation or obstruction of union duties. However, if forensic analysis recovers audio files, it would deal a significant blow to the union's credibility at a critical juncture.
The Context: Works Council Elections 2026
To fully understand the gravity of this dispute, one must look at the calendar. The next works council election for Giga Berlin is scheduled to take place from March 2 to March 4, 2026. This election is a pivotal moment for the factory’s governance and the representation of its workforce.
The works council (Betriebsrat) is a fundamental institution in German corporate life, distinct from unions but often populated by union members. It possesses wide-ranging co-determination rights regarding working hours, shift planning, safety protocols, and hiring practices. For Tesla, maintaining a cooperative works council is essential for operational flexibility. For IG Metall, securing a majority in the council is crucial to enforcing collective bargaining standards and increasing their foothold in the EV sector.
Management at the facility has already confirmed the election dates to local media, marking the official commencement of the election process. The campaign period is now underway, and the atmosphere is charged. With approximately 11,000 employees eligible to cast ballots, the outcome will determine the balance of power within the factory for the next four years.
A History of Friction
The relationship between Tesla and IG Metall has been fraught with tension since the automaker broke ground in Brandenburg. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has historically been critical of trade unions, favoring direct relationships with employees. In contrast, IG Metall views the organization of Tesla workers as a symbolic and practical necessity to prevent the erosion of German labor standards.
The previous works council election in 2024 was a significant event, triggered by the rapid expansion of the workforce. At that time, lists competing for seats included both union-backed candidates and those seen as more aligned with management’s vision. The results of that election set up a divided council, leading to inevitable friction over the subsequent two years.
Under German labor law, regular works council elections are mandated every four years during the period between March 1 and May 31. The 2026 election is the first
