Tesla is hoping to hire as many as 12,000 employees for Giga Berlin by the time the facility reaches volume production and the battery factory is fully operational.
However, the company will need to increase its wages in order to reach that target, according to IG Metall, the country’s leading automotive labour union.
IG Metall says they have received reports from staff working at the factory that they are receiving inadequate or unequal wages compared to similar positions at other automakers. Based on their analysis, the labour union says skilled workers are being paid as much as 20% less in comparison.
As a result, IG Metall says Tesla’s hiring campaign is being slowed down by the low wages once applicants see they can earn more at other car factories.
 “Many people would be interested in switching to Tesla, but ultimately decide against it, also because they sometimes earn considerably more in their current positions at other automotive companies,” Birgit Dietze, a regional IG Metall chief, said in a statement. (via Bloomberg)
Despite these claims, the workers that are employed at Giga Berlin have been doing an exceptional job ramping production since the factory opened on March 22, 2022.
Last week Tesla announced they had a reached a major milestone, producing 1,014 cars in a five day production period, exceeding their internal targets. The factory is currently operating Monday through Friday on a two-shift schedule.
The second shift was added in May, and runs from 3:00pm until 11:00pm, taking over from the morning shift which runs from 7:00am until 3:00pm.
Tesla adds second shift at Giga Berlin as production ramp increases
