Tesla works councils demand Christmas bonus instead of socks
After plant manager André Thierig raved about the high capacity utilization in Grünheide, the employees want to share in the success. They insist on a bonus of 1500 euros.
Sönke Iwersen, Michael Verfürden15.09.2025 - 11:43 o'clock
 The head of the Tesla plant in Grünheide, André Thierig: Production targets increased. Photo: Patrick Pleul/dpa
Düsseldorf. It was only six weeks ago that the supervisory board of the US electric car manufacturer Tesla CEO Elon Musk held out the prospect of the largest compensation package ever received by a human being. Musk is to receive 96 million Tesla shares. Today's value: 29 billion dollars.
If Musk achieves the goals associated with the package, his compensation could even rise to one trillion dollars. Tesla's unionized employees are taking the mega bonus for the boss as an opportunity to also register demands for the workforce in Grünheide.
The IG Metall faction in the Tesla works council has called on the company to pay all employees a Christmas bonus of at least 1500 euros. "We have earned it," the "IG Metall – Tesla Workers" told Handelsblatt.
Tesla: Germany boss Thierig celebrates success
Since Monday, they have been collecting signatures on Christmas postcards in the Gigafactory to show the plant management that the workforce is behind this demand.
According to the trade unionists, the environment is favourable. "There is enough money at Tesla because the colleagues work hard and well," said IG Metall district manager Jan Otto. "1,500 euros Christmas bonus is the minimum."
In fact, plant manager André Thierig recently raved about the capacity utilization at the plant. "Our Model Y was also by far the best-selling electric car in Europe in the first half of 2025," Thierig wrote to the workforce in August. "And because our Model Y is such a huge success, we have increased the production schedule by the end of the year."
Some employees may have been surprised, because the official statistics show problems for the US carmaker. In Germany, the Model Y was not even in the top 10 in terms of new registrations in the first seven months of 2025.
Socks as a symbol of inequality
But Thierig's mail found great successes in Norway and Turkey. In addition, the Canadian market from Grünheide will also be served in the future, the plant manager wrote.
A new email a few days ago also said: "Our plant is well utilized, and that's a good thing! Thank you very much for your daily commitment to make this success possible."
The works councils now want to take Thierig at his word. "We delivered what we could - day after day, week after week," it said in a statement. "We have produced the success of our Gigafactory. That's why there has to be more in it for all of us at the end of the year: We deserve it."
The union supports the project. "Tesla CEO Elon Musk is to receive one trillion dollars in compensation," criticized Jan Otto, IG Metall district manager Berlin-Brandenburg-Saxony. "And the employees are left empty-handed when it comes to Christmas bonuses. This is unacceptable and cannot stay that way."
Tesla has so far left an inquiry from Handelsblatt about the demands of the works councils unanswered. Last year, the German company management came up with its own bonus for Christmas: employees received red socks embroidered with the white lettering 'Giga'.
(Translated from German) |
