Driven to the Edge: An investor briefing on freedom of association and collective bargaining at Tesla

Tesla’s (TSLA) Annual General Meeting will take place on June 13^th and investors are raising critical questions about the company’s track record of meeting internationally recognized labour rights standards. The company has been repeatedly accused of interfering with workers’ rights across its global operations which have exposed its shareholders to operational, legal, and reputational risks jeopardizing Tesla’s long-term value. Join us on June 4^th for a webinar discussion where investors will hear directly from a Tesla worker, a representative from the Swedish trade union (IF Metall), and concerned Tesla shareholders. The panel will discuss the associated risks of the automaker’s anti-union practices and a shareholder resolution calling for a Non-interference and Collective Bargaining Policy at Tesla.

While Tesla has recently modified its Global Human Rights Policy, the company continues to be entangled with credible allegations of violating its workers’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining. In Sweden, Tesla is facing a prolonged strike and solidarity actions across northern Europe stemming from the company’s refusal to negotiate a collective agreement. Meanwhile in Germany – the location of its first European Gigafactory employing more than 11,000 workers – the company faces allegations that it is refusing to bargain with a union. In the United States, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued complaints against Tesla citing violations of its workers’ labour rights. In response to these troubling indicators, a coalition of investors filed a shareholder resolution requesting the Tesla Board of Directors to adopt a comprehensive labour rights policy that explicitly commits the company to non-interference in worker organizing, good faith and timely bargaining, compliance with the highest labour standards, and a processes to identify, protect, and remedy any labour rights violations.

This event, co-hosted by SOC Investment Group and the Global Union’s Committee for Workers’ Capital (CWC), will bring together diverse voices from around the world to explore how Tesla can strengthen its policies and practices in line with investor expectations to better mitigate workforce-related risks.

*Please note that unfortunately, this event is not open to the press.