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Tesla factory workers pushing for a union send demands to Tesla's Board

businessinsider.com

31–40 of 127 posts

Re: Tesla factory workers pushing for a union send demands to Tesla's Board

#31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok yes, on re-reading I think this article is talking bullshit. The sentence does read "but has since told employees to report injuries directly to him", but the linked article behind the article then explains that he wants all injuries reported to him. Subtly different, dirty journalism. I think my point on us living in a "Musk can't do wrong bubble stands" but on this occasion it seems shoddy reporting should mean…

> Subtly different, dirty journalism. Or it was a mistake. Journalists sometimes make them, too.

That's what editors are for. Bloggers can make those sort of mistakes, but when it comes from a publisher like BI and the number of eyes it sees before it gets pushed, it's safe to assume that they mean to say what they say.

Re: Tesla factory workers pushing for a union send demands to Tesla's Board

#33
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like this is a dirty part of our culture and legal system - it almost seems like boards are legally obligated to seek as much profit as possible, even if at the expense of workers. This includes exploring ways to lobby to change laws, exploring breaking the law if that is more profitable than not doing so (i.e. paying fines instead of meeting emission standards), etc. I feel like if in today's America a CEO of…

It may seem like it but is actually not. CEO and board members are not legally required* to maximize "shareholder value." That is just a myth. *There are a few things they are prohibited to do that are vaguely similar. They can't sell the company for $1 or destroy the value of the company intentionally to screw over shareholders.

They're privately required to by financial analysts.

http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-americ...

Really, public stock markets were a mistake, weren't they.

Re: Tesla factory workers pushing for a union send demands to Tesla's Board

#34

Personally, I think Tesla doesn't want a push towards unionization because fundamentally, the end game is all about automating away current factory workforce. A union being implemented would make this a lot more difficult.

That's definitely true, but Elon seems pretty intent on staying at the forefront of the debates surrounding automation and AI in the workplace. From that perspective, it could allow Tesla, and himself, to become industry leaders in promoting equitable solutions.

Re: Tesla factory workers pushing for a union send demands to Tesla's Board

#35

It seems like with any company that has a huge divide in terms of knowledge/skill/salaried jobs, i.e. Tesla engineers vs. factory workers or Lyft developers vs. drivers, there will always be a bias towards the smaller elite core. I wonder how this will play out in the future as class divides between high skilled versus low skilled workers become more and more ever present within the oncoming wave of mass automation.

> I wonder how this will play out in the future as class divides between high skilled versus low skilled workers become more and more ever present within the oncoming wave of mass automation.

The Bay Area is a pretty good current example of that future.

Re: Tesla factory workers pushing for a union send demands to Tesla's Board

#36
Does anyone know (or provide link) to current worker salary, benefits and work rules?

I would bet they already have adopted most of the obvious union won rules such as tenure, scheduling, overtime, sick leave, time off, differential, bidding, etc...

Even Wal-Mart has adopted policies that are staples in some bargained areas. Just not "no termination clause" among others

My experience says union national leadership cares #1 about membership; #2-100 everything else

Re: Tesla factory workers pushing for a union send demands to Tesla's Board

#37
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Germany's manufacturing companies have massive union presence in everything they do and they're some of the most successful in the planet. Let's stop with this ridiculous demonization of unions. American corporations have chosen a confrontational model with unions and staff. It doesn't have to be this way. There are better models around if the owners of capital are willing to cooperate with workers.

Germany's manufacturers are heavily subsidised by the government and have a big advantage of a lower value EU currency than they would have if they still traded on the German mark.

Germany’s bizarre version of capitalism—where bosses and workers actually cooperate—is winning

https://qz.com/452076/this-just-in-german-capitalism-has-won...

Secret German auto subsidies exposed

http://www.motoring.com.au/secret-german-auto-subsidies-expo...

Re: Tesla factory workers pushing for a union send demands to Tesla's Board

#38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Subtly different, dirty journalism. Or it was a mistake. Journalists sometimes make them, too.

That's what editors are for. Bloggers can make those sort of mistakes, but when it comes from a publisher like BI and the number of eyes it sees before it gets pushed, it's safe to assume that they mean to say what they say.

BI is a blog

Re: Tesla factory workers pushing for a union send demands to Tesla's Board

#39
post #12

I'm a Tesla shareholder (of little significance in the grand scheme of things, but I bought some) and this wouldn't put me off. In fact, I think they should have a union.

As a shareholder this would really put me off. Unions are one of the main reasons we had such a huge American auto crisis just a few years ago. I'm largely anti-union anyways. We should have government enforced guarantees of decent treatment. We shouldn't have a tyranny of the masses demanding ever more pay, benefits, etc until a company is bled dry.

Re: Tesla factory workers pushing for a union send demands to Tesla's Board

#40
post #12

I'm a Tesla shareholder (of little significance in the grand scheme of things, but I bought some) and this wouldn't put me off. In fact, I think they should have a union.

As a shareholder this would really put me off. Unions are one of the main reasons we had such a huge American auto crisis just a few years ago. I'm largely anti-union anyways. We should have government enforced guarantees of decent treatment. We shouldn't have a tyranny of the masses demanding ever more pay, benefits, etc until a company is bled dry.

Made an account just to say that I couldn't tell if this post was sarcasm or not. Really? You don't want "...tyranny of the masses demanding ever more pay, benefits, etc until a company is bled dry", but you're ok with "..government enforced guarantees of decent treatment."?

Strong fucking everything

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