Detroit, MI: The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has filed federal labor charges against former President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, alleging that their comments during a recent social media conversation constituted threats and intimidation towards workers. The charges stem from a conversation between the two on X, formerly known as Twitter, where they discussed labor issues, including strikes.
During the conversation, Trump made comments suggesting that workers who go on strike should be fired, stating, “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 okay, you’re all gone. You’re all gone.'” Musk appeared to agree with Trump’s sentiments.
The UAW argues that these statements violate federal labor law, which protects workers’ rights to strike and prohibits employers from threatening employees for engaging in protected concerted activities. The union is seeking penalties against Trump and Musk for their alleged violations.
This move by the UAW comes as the union is engaged in contract negotiations with Detroit automakers, and tensions between labor and management are high. The charges against Trump and Musk have added a new dimension to the ongoing labor disputes and have drawn significant attention to the issue of worker rights.