• by Tanya Gazdik , August 13, 2024

The United Auto Workers Union has filed federal labor charges with the National Labor Relations Board against Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk after their high-profile two-hour conversation on Musk’s social media platform, X. 

“The charges of unfair labor practices that the autoworkers union filed with the National Labor Relations Board allege that, during their conversation, Trump and Musk illegally threatened and intimidated workers who engage in protected labor activity, such as strikes,” according to The Washington Post. “The charges were filed against Musk as a representative of Tesla, the electric vehicle company of which he is the chief executive and largest shareholder. The union has been trying to organize workers there.” 

The union accuses the two of trying to intimidate and threaten its members, according to Patch. 

“I mean, I look at what you do. You walk in, you 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. You’re all gone. So, every one of you is gone,'" Trump told Musk during the conversation.

Trump was referring to the 2022 gutting of Twitter staff after Musk took over the social media business and renamed it X, according to CNBC.

It is unclear whether the NLRB will take action against Trump for his comments.

“The UAW seized upon Trump's remarks as the union rallies behind Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris and encourages its nearly 400,000 workers to vote for her over Trump,” according to Reuters. “The issue is especially pertinent in battleground states like Michigan which could determine who wins the White House in November.”

A company cannot fire its employees if they are on strike under the National Labor Relations Act, which is a federal law.

"When we say Donald Trump is a scab, this is what we mean. When we say Trump stands against everything our union stands for, this is what we mean," United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain said in a news release.

The UAW endorsed Harris at the end of July and Fain spoke at her recent Michigan rally.