Overview
- Tesla filed a criminal complaint after alleging an external IG Metall representative covertly recorded a closed works‑council meeting at the Grünheide factory.
- Police confirmed they secured the laptop and collected witness statements, citing suspected breaches of §201 StGB and provisions of the Works Constitution Act, with prosecutors reviewing next steps.
- IG Metall rejects the allegation as a calculated smear ahead of the ballot and says it will pursue legal action, asserting the claim was sprung by an employer‑aligned council member and not allowed to be refuted.
- The accused individual is not a Tesla employee but an invited union official, according to plant management communications reported by multiple outlets.
- The clash intensifies a long‑running dispute over pay and a collective bargaining agreement, with a closely watched works‑council election scheduled for March 2–4 after IG Metall previously won the largest faction without a majority.