On August 13, the United Auto Workers (UAW) said it had filed a lawsuit with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) alleging that former U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk had tried to threaten and intimidate workers, Reuters reported.
The UAW is targeting comments Trump made with Musk on a livestream.On Aug. 12, Trump engaged in a live conversation with Musk on the social media platform X. Trump said that he had been “very angry” with Musk and that he was “very angry” with Musk, and that he was “very angry” with him. During the livestream, Trump praised Musk’s ability to cut costs, calling him a “great cost-cutter (cutter)” and said he would not tolerate worker strikes. “You walk in and ask ‘Are you trying to quit?’ But they continue to strike (I won’t say which company). And then you say ‘It’s OK, you can all leave.'”
Musk only laughed at Trump’s comments and did not respond. In response, former NLRB Board Chairwoman Wilma Liebman said it’s still difficult for the NLRB to determine whether Musk made illegal threats against workers at his company.
The UAW said in a statement that under federal law, workers can’t be fired for striking and that making such threats is illegal under the National Labor Relations Act. Musk then took to social media to criticize UAW President Shawn Fain and referenced two former UAW presidents who have been jailed for bribery and corruption, “Judging by the recent news, it looks like this guy will be joining them!” A court-appointed monitor is currently investigating several UAW executives, including allegations that Fain retaliated against a board member.
Brian Hughes, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, said in a statement, “This frivolous lawsuit is a shameless political stunt designed to undermine Trump’s overwhelming support among American workers.”
On Aug. 13, Fain said, “Both Trump and Musk want the working class to sit down and shut up, and they’re openly mocking that. This is disgusting, illegal, and utterly predictable buffoonery.” Earlier, Trump called for the firing of union leaders, saying they bear some responsibility for the decline of U.S. auto manufacturing.
Additionally, Fain filed separate lawsuits against the Trump campaign and Tesla with the NLRB, claiming that both have made statements suggesting that they “will fire employees who engage in protected concerted activity, including strikes.” The lawsuits don’t provide much more detail, however.