Tesla’s Giga Berlin has concluded its latest works council election, and the results show a clear shift in employee representation inside the automaker’s only European factory.
According to preliminary results reported by German media and confirmed by Tesla, the list known as “Giga United,” led by current works council chairwoman Michaela Schmitz, secured the largest share of votes with 40.4%, maintaining its position as the dominant group within the employee council.
Meanwhile, IG Metall, Germany’s powerful metalworkers’ union, saw its support decline compared to the previous election. The union-backed list “IG Metall Tesla Workers GFBB” received 31.1% of the vote, down significantly from 39.4% in 2024, when it was the strongest faction on the council.
Tesla plant manager André Thierig celebrated the outcome shortly after the results emerged, writing on X that the vote showed employees’ preference for independent representation. Thierig also highlighted the strong performance of the Giga United list, which received more than 40% of the vote.
BREAKING!
— André Thierig (@AndrThie) March 4, 2026
IG Metall did not succeed in Giga Berlin‘s works council election earlier today. The union share was reduced from nearly 40% in 2024 to 31% in 2026!
This is a clear message by theGiga Berlin team towards an independent co-determination!
The list called Giga…
Works Council Changes From the Vote
The results are expected to translate into 16 seats for Giga United, one more than in the previous council. IG Metall, which had previously held the largest number of seats, will now hold 13 seats, losing three.
A third group, the “Polish Initiative,” secured 8.3% of the vote, making it the third-largest faction. The group specifically campaigned to represent the roughly 2,000 Polish employees working at the plant. Their platform included proposals such as introducing Polish as a third working language and providing Polish food options in the factory cafeteria. (via Handelsblatt)
Four additional lists will share the remaining five seats.
In total, 10,703 employees were eligible to vote, with turnout reaching 87%, slightly lower than the 93% participation rate recorded in the 2024 election.
Musk’s Message Ahead of the Vote
The election campaign unfolded amid a tense atmosphere inside the factory. Just days before the vote, Tesla CEO Elon Musk addressed employees in a video message, warning that the company’s future expansion plans could be affected by increased outside influence.
“Things will certainly be more difficult if there are external organizations, so to speak, that are pushing Tesla in the wrong direction,” Musk said. “We will not close the factory, but realistically we will not expand either.”
Union Claims Election Was Unfair
Despite the loss, IG Metall insisted the result still reflected significant support among workers. Union representative Laura Arndt acknowledged the outcome but said many employees continued to back their platform.
At the same time, IG Metall district leader Jan Otto accused Tesla management of attempting to influence the vote, calling the election campaign a “low point.”
The works council will soon reconvene to formally appoint its leadership, with Michaela Schmitz widely expected to remain chairwoman for a third term.
For Tesla, the outcome means the plant will continue operating with a works council structure that is largely independent from formal union control—something the company has long preferred at its other facilities around the world.
