Tesla hired a public relations firm to keep an eye on its staff on Facebook: Source

Sunday, June 5, 2022 | Chimniii Desk

When some workers at Elon Musk's Tesla factory in Fermont, California, attempted to join a union between 2017 and 2018, the business apparently engaged a public relations agency to monitor their actions on social media, particularly Facebook.

In 2017 and 2018, Tesla maintained a careful eye on some employees' social media posts as they attempted to create a union at the automaker's Fremont, California, facility, according to CNBC.

Elon Musk's automaker hired MWW, a PR firm, to monitor an employee Facebook page and research union organisers on social media during the organising drive, according to invoices and other records seen by CNBC.

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According to CNBC, MWW monitored social media channels for discussions regarding Tesla and the unionisation push, then developed communication plans and strategies based on the findings.

Tesla and MWW did not respond to Insider's requests for comment right away.

MWW said it's typical for corporations to monitor social media activity in a statement to CNBC.

"During a period of significant expansion at Tesla, MWW advised on a comprehensive employee communications engagement in 2017-2018. "Reviewing media coverage and public social dialogue about a firm to acquire insights into concerns and stakeholder views about the brand is a typical activity," a spokeswoman stated.

According to Arthur Wheaton, an expert on the auto industry and labour relations at Cornell University, it's not uncommon for employers facing a union drive to monitor both in-person and online communications among employees. If a corporation aggressively discouraged employees from organising or retaliated against them because of their pro-union activity, those practises could be considered illegal under labour law.

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Wheaton explained, "There is a distinction between being immoral and being unlawful." "It doesn't surprise me that Tesla is monitoring social media for persons they suspect are members of a union or looking for any union activities."

Musk has already expressed his distaste for labour unions, and Tesla has been accused of illegally obstructing organising efforts.

Tesla fired union activist Richard Ortiz in 2017, and the National Labor Relations Board eventually ordered the company to reinstate him and compensate him for lost wages. Musk tweeted in 2018 that employees who joined a union would forfeit their stock options. He was later instructed by the authorities to delete the tweet.

Tesla has also been accused of creating a toxic work environment over the years. Tesla employees claimed they were harassed because of their gender or colour, according to 46 cases uncovered by Insider.

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