UAW sues Tesla’s Musk, Trump claiming they intimidated, threatened workers in X interview
The United Auto Workers union has filed an unfair labour practice charge against former President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, arguing that the two men illegally intimidated workers in a Monday night interview on X.
The action came after Tesla CEO Musk and Trump held a two-hour conversation on the platform on Monday night, during which the two discussed workers walking off the job to go on strike.
In a statement on Tuesday, the union said the complaint centred on disparaging comments made by Trump, suggesting that employers could fire workers for going on strike, according to the union.
“You’re the greatest cutter,” Trump said during the conversation. “I mean, I look at what you do. You walk in, you just say: ‘You want to quit?’ They go on strike – I won’t mention the name of the company – but they go on strike. And you say: ‘That’s OK, you’re all gone.’”
Unfair labour practice charges are filed with and investigated by the National Labor Relations Board.
Under US federal law, workers cannot be fired for going on strike, and threatening to do so is illegal under the National Labor Relations Act, the UAW said in its statement.
The UAW has endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris in her bid for US president. She met with union officials and workers last week near Detroit.
