Tesla CEO Elon Musk mocks UAW, slams union over corruption

[TruckElectric]

Tesla CEO Elon Musk mocks UAW, slams union over corruption
By
Will Feuer
November 10, 2021 7:07pm
Updated

Elon Musk recently called out the Biden administration for holding an electric vehicle event at the White House, in which Tesla was not invited.dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

Tesla CEO Elon Musk — the world’s wealthiest man — mocked the United Auto Workers union, one of the largest labor groups in the country, over corruption allegations that have plagued the organization for years.

“New UAW slogan: ‘Fighting for their right to steal money from workers!'” Musk tweeted Wednesday.

Musk’s remark came in response to an article detailing charges brought earlier Wednesday by federal prosecutors against Tim Edmunds, a former UAW official in Michigan, who allegedly embezzled millions of dollars and spent it on “gambling, guns and cars.”

Edmunds is the 16th person charged in the sprawling corruption scandal that’s plagued the UAW in recent years.

Brian Rothenberg, a union spokesman, pushed back on Musk’s characterization of the UAW, saying that it was the union’s own internal auditors who rooted out the allegations against Edmunds.

Tesla’s workforce is not unionized, with Musk personally opposing unionization efforts in the past.dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

“The UAW reforms are what found the issue,” he said, adding that the union announced the discovery of the alleged embezzling last month.

Musk has a contentious past with unions.

Tesla’s workforce isn’t unionized and in 2017, the UAW filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of hundreds of Tesla factory workers who were fired from the assembly plant, alleging that the workers were unfairly targeted for being pro-union.

Earlier this year, the NLRB ruled that Tesla violated labor laws when it fired one union activist and again when Musk tweeted: “Nothing stopping Tesla team at our car plant from voting union. Could do so tmrw if they wanted. But why pay union dues & give up stock options for nothing?”

The federal agency ordered Musk to delete the tweet.

There are more than 600 local unions in the UAW, according to the UAW website.SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Musk has said he’s not stopping Tesla workers from unionizing, but does dislike unions.dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

More recently, Musk has found himself at odds with the pro-union Biden administration. In September, he railed against President Joe Biden, accusing him of bias against Tesla and saying that the current administration appears to be “controlled by unions.”

Musk pointed specifically to an electric vehicle event hosted at the White House in August, to which Tesla — which sells more electric cars in the US than any other auto maker — wasn’t invited.


“Biden held this EV summit — didn’t invite Tesla. Invited GM, Ford, Chrysler, and UAW [United Auto Workers Union]. An EV summit at the White House. Didn’t mention Tesla once, and praised GM and Ford for leading the EV revolution,” Musk said at the time.

https://nypost.com/2021/11/10/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-mocks-uaw-slams-union-over-corruption/



UAW President Curry under investigation for possible ethical misconduct
Breana NobleRobert Snell
The Detroit News

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/b...gated-possible-ethical-misconduct/6389278001/


Feds: UAW local treasurer used union money to pay for child support, gambling
Timothy Edmunds faces list of charges including embezzlement, money laundering

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news...nion-money-to-pay-for-child-support-gambling/

 

[Crissa]

Not pointed out in the article: The amount that Unionized workers make over non-unionized is way more than their dues, let alone the amount stolen. Which is way less than corrupt execs have walked off with...

Just to keep the crimes in scale.

-Crisa

 

[ZARDOZ]

Not pointed out in the article: The amount that Unionized workers make over non-unionized is way more than their dues, let alone the amount stolen. Which is way less than corrupt execs have walked off with...

Just to keep the crimes in scale.

-Crisa

UAW vs Tesla employees or union workers in general?

 

[Crissa]

UAW vs Tesla employees or union workers in general?

Union vs non-union, same job titles. Tesla workers - for similar jobs - do as good as UAW.
https://www.epi.org/press/union-wor...st-strengthen-workers-ability-to-form-unions/

Which should tell you how poorly most employers pay.

-Crissa

 

[Red61224]

The UAW is like a parsitic leach that slowly kills it's host with it's blood sucking actions and then wonders why the host has died in complete dismay. But man that blood sure tasted good while it lasted. Next.....

 

[Crissa]

The UAW is like a parsitic leach that slowly kills it's host with it's blood sucking actions and then wonders why the host has died in complete dismay. But man that blood sure tasted good while it lasted. Next.....

I can't find any evidence of that. https://www.princeton.edu/~davidlee/wp/unionbf.pdf

The thing is, if a business is doing poorly, a union is more invested in propping that business up than non-unionized workers. So there's countervailing forces involved.

-Crissa

 

[TruckElectric]

Not pointed out in the article: The amount that Unionized workers make over non-unionized is way more than their dues, let alone the amount stolen. Which is way less than corrupt execs have walked off with...

Just to keep the crimes in scale.

-Crisa

Do you think the UAW would be good for Tesla?

I do see a further push by UAW to get into Tesla. The handwriting is on the wall(all over the wall actually, more like graffiti).

Elon Musk is no fan of UAW.....the battle will be epic!

 

[Crissa]

No. I think Tesla needs a new Union. One that works for their situation. One that can keep their managers honest and work with their engineers. One that can deal with having their membership be owners of the company. (And one that doesn't lie about that part.)

-Crissa

 

[TruckElectric]

No. I think Tesla needs a new Union.

The UAW will not allow another union to represent Tesla's line workers.

One that can keep their managers honest and work with their engineers.

Tesla's managers are not honest?

 

[TruckElectric]

Tesla CEO Elon Musk mocks UAW, slams union over corruption
By
Will Feuer
November 10, 2021 7:07pm
Updated

Elon Musk recently called out the Biden administration for holding an electric vehicle event at the White House, in which Tesla was not invited.dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

Tesla CEO Elon Musk — the world’s wealthiest man — mocked the United Auto Workers union, one of the largest labor groups in the country, over corruption allegations that have plagued the organization for years.

“New UAW slogan: ‘Fighting for their right to steal money from workers!'” Musk tweeted Wednesday.

Musk’s remark came in response to an article detailing charges brought earlier Wednesday by federal prosecutors against Tim Edmunds, a former UAW official in Michigan, who allegedly embezzled millions of dollars and spent it on “gambling, guns and cars.”

Edmunds is the 16th person charged in the sprawling corruption scandal that’s plagued the UAW in recent years.

Brian Rothenberg, a union spokesman, pushed back on Musk’s characterization of the UAW, saying that it was the union’s own internal auditors who rooted out the allegations against Edmunds.

Tesla’s workforce is not unionized, with Musk personally opposing unionization efforts in the past.dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

“The UAW reforms are what found the issue,” he said, adding that the union announced the discovery of the alleged embezzling last month.

Musk has a contentious past with unions.

Tesla’s workforce isn’t unionized and in 2017, the UAW filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of hundreds of Tesla factory workers who were fired from the assembly plant, alleging that the workers were unfairly targeted for being pro-union.

Earlier this year, the NLRB ruled that Tesla violated labor laws when it fired one union activist and again when Musk tweeted: “Nothing stopping Tesla team at our car plant from voting union. Could do so tmrw if they wanted. But why pay union dues & give up stock options for nothing?”

The federal agency ordered Musk to delete the tweet.

There are more than 600 local unions in the UAW, according to the UAW website.SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Musk has said he’s not stopping Tesla workers from unionizing, but does dislike unions.dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

More recently, Musk has found himself at odds with the pro-union Biden administration. In September, he railed against President Joe Biden, accusing him of bias against Tesla and saying that the current administration appears to be “controlled by unions.”

Musk pointed specifically to an electric vehicle event hosted at the White House in August, to which Tesla — which sells more electric cars in the US than any other auto maker — wasn’t invited.


“Biden held this EV summit — didn’t invite Tesla. Invited GM, Ford, Chrysler, and UAW [United Auto Workers Union]. An EV summit at the White House. Didn’t mention Tesla once, and praised GM and Ford for leading the EV revolution,” Musk said at the time.

https://nypost.com/2021/11/10/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-mocks-uaw-slams-union-over-corruption/



UAW President Curry under investigation for possible ethical misconduct
Breana NobleRobert Snell
The Detroit News

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/b...gated-possible-ethical-misconduct/6389278001/


Feds: UAW local treasurer used union money to pay for child support, gambling
Timothy Edmunds faces list of charges including embezzlement, money laundering

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news...nion-money-to-pay-for-child-support-gambling/

John Deere and UAW are currently going at it.

UAW says John Deere has made 'last, best and final' offer
For almost a month, 10,000 union members working at John Deere have been on strike. They will remain on strike until they all agree on a deal.

https://www.kcci.com/article/john-d...ers-strike-contract-deal-best-offer/38240612#

 

[Richard V.]

Here in the case of this thread, I am trying to think what would be the right thing to do?

As I indicated, I recently graduated with a Master Degree (in Public Ethics) from Saint Paul University (looking at social ethics) that had me thinking of first principles (as Elon would say) for best social behaviours and policies.

I find the enclosed following sort video to be a good start to help evaluate the environment, while considering various human and social agencies. From experience, I have been exposed to many of the behaviours described in this very simple, but yet very profound analysis of the situations we are in right now in these "post truth" societies where anyone's opinion is pitted against the most scientific research that are supported with loads of data. Please have a look at this video while keeping a very open mind about what would be the best outcome for humanity in general.

Ref: 294 The Five Laws Of Stupidity - YouTube You can replace the word "stupidity" by "misguided" to be more sensitive to those persons perhaps included in this group of people without knowing...

EXTRACT HERE:

"Non-stupid [smart] people always underestimate the damaging power of stupid [misguided] individuals. In particular non-stupid [thoughtful] people constantly forget that at all times and places and under any circumstances to deal and/or associate with stupid [misguided] people always turns out to be a costly mistake." ...
Carlo Cipolla In the 1970s, an economic historian called Carlo Cipolla wrote a provocative article titled "The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity". This ... episode is about his theory of the destructiveness of stupid [bad social] behaviour and why it is so underestimated and misunderstood. Show Notes: The Basic Laws Of Human Stupidity by Carlo M. Cipolla The Five Universal Laws Of Stupidity by Corrine Purtill.

More here on the human laws: The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity (cat-v.org)

All the best.

 

[JudgeMetal]

The UAW is like a parsitic leach that slowly kills it's host with it's blood sucking actions and then wonders why the host has died in complete dismay. But man that blood sure tasted good while it lasted. Next.....

Like many organizations it starts with the goal of advancing its Principles, and ends up just trying to advance the organization itself.

 

[Crissa]

The UAW will not allow another union to represent Tesla's line workers.

The UAW does not have a say in the matter. If workers want a union that's not the UAW, they can vote for that.

Tesla's managers are not honest?

Some have been found not to be in court. Hence settlements. And rumors have Elon has dressing down managers for ignoring suggestions from people on the line.

Oversight is needed that puts workers, safety, labor laws above corporate interests. Unions do that.

-Crissa

 

[firsttruck]

Like many organizations it starts with the goal of advancing its Principles, and ends up just trying to advance the organization itself.

In history of human civilization, business leaders, corporate leaders, religious organization leaders and nations have proved to be more apt to put themselves above all else compared to labor unions.

 

[TruckElectric]

The UAW does not have a say in the matter.

Wrong. The UAW will not allow another union to represent Tesla employees working in auto production.

Some have been found not to be in court. Hence settlements.

Settlements happen with unions.

And rumors have Elon has dressing down managers for ignoring suggestions from people on the line.

Never go by "rumors", only facts.

Oversight is needed that puts workers, safety, labor laws above corporate interests.

Not in Tesla's case.