The independent 'Giga United' list, led by incumbent chair Michaela Schmitz, secured 24 of 37 seats with 40.4% of votes in the works council election at Tesla's Gigafactory Grünheide. IG Metall's 'Tesla Workers GFFB' list finished second at 31.1%, down from 39.4% in 2024, amid legal disputes, anti-union campaigns, and Elon Musk warnings against union influence.
The works council election at Tesla's Gigafactory in Grünheide—its only German and European production site—concluded on March 4, 2026, after voting from March 2-4. Of 10,703 eligible employees, 87% participated (down 6 points from 2024), electing a reduced council of 37 seats from 39 amid a workforce shrink to about 10,000 from 12,415.
'Giga United' won 40.4% and 24 seats, giving non-union lists an overall majority, per Tesla. The Polish Initiative took third at 8.3%, with other votes split among 11 lists and 550 candidates. IG Metall, which held 16 of 39 seats two years ago, nominated 116 candidates but dropped to 31.1% (Handelsblatt). District leader Jan Otto called it a result 'despite all attacks from management and an extraordinarily unfair campaign.' Candidates Laura Arndt and Philipp Schwartz vowed: 'We will also in the new works council commit all our efforts to ensure that things change.'
Tensions peaked pre-vote: In February 2026, Tesla accused an IG Metall rep of secretly recording a meeting, prompting police to seize his laptop; the union called it a 'brazen lie' and filed defamation charges against plant manager André Thierig. Both sides pursued legal action, later settled. Tesla held an anti-union concert in December 2025 and distributed 'Giga JA – Gewerkschaft NEIN' buttons. Musk's video to workers warned: 'Things will certainly become more difficult if there are external organizations pushing Tesla in the wrong direction. We will not close the factory, but realistically we will also not expand,' referencing stalled expansion plans for Cybercab and Semi production.
IG Metall seeks a collective bargaining agreement to address overwork, pressure on sick employees, home visits by managers, and arbitrary layoffs. Tesla rejects this, citing above-average wages and claiming the union aims to boost membership. IG Metall chair Christiane Benner decried a 'hard and dirty campaign' by the employer. The Brandenburg government urged mediation while supporting a collective deal.
The plant operates at ~40% of 375,000 Model Y capacity, hit by a 14% workforce cut and sales woes: European Tesla sales fell 28% in 2025, German registrations 48% to 19,390 amid Chinese EV competition.
