UAW complaint alleges Tesla fired employees for backing union

Photo: Bergen Kenny, Storefront Political Media

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Pro-union Tesla employees rally outside the company's auto factory on Oct. 24. The United Auto Workers filed a complaint Wednesday with federal authorities accusing Tesla of firing workers for supporting the union. less

Photo: Bergen Kenny, Storefront Political Media

The United Auto Workers filed a federal complaint Wednesday accusing Tesla of firing employees for supporting efforts to organize the electric car maker’s Fremont factory.

The complaint, filed with the National Labor Relations Board, comes days after pro-union employees staged a demonstration in the factory’s parking lot. Tesla on Thursday dismissed the complaint as an organizing tactic.

The complaint alleges that Tesla even fired employees for wearing items with the union’s logo. Tesla has acknowledged recently firing some employees — even as the company tries to increase production at the factory — but said the terminations were part of a performance review process.

Some of those let go dispute the company’s explanation.

“I worked hard for this company for five years, sometimes 72 hours a week — and never had any performance-related complaints,” said Mike Williams, in a press release issued Thursday by pro-union workers. “I did, however, wear a union shirt. And I had union stickers on my water bottle.”

The complaint also accuses the Palo Alto company of firing workers for violating a confidentiality agreement that some employees — and California lawmakers — said infringed on employee rights. Richard Ortiz, who had spoken to the press about working conditions in the factory, said he was fired for violating that agreement. He remains convinced, however, that he was fired for supporting the union drive.

“I’ve worked in auto manufacturing my whole life,” Ortiz said, in the press release. “I do not believe — not for a second — that I was fired for cause.”

Tesla responded Thursday that terminations were not based on pro-union sentiment.

“At Tesla, we strive to be a fair and just company, the only kind worth being,” a spokesman said in an email. “Performance reviews result in promotions and occasionally in employee departures. No one at Tesla has ever or will ever have any action taken against them based on their feelings on unionization.”

Tesla already faces a complaint from the Labor Relations Board alleging that the company interfered in union organizing activities. A hearing on that complaint is scheduled for Nov. 14.

The union has been trying for years to organize the factory, where roughly 10,000 of Tesla’s 33,000 employees work. Working conditions at the auto plant have drawn increased scrutiny as Tesla tries to increase production, aiming to make 500,000 cars next year — about six times as many as in 2016.

David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF

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