Tesla CEO Elon Musk replied to both KISS co-founder Gene Simmons and President Joe Biden in the same Twitter response to address his company’s non-union status, noting he “will do nothing to stop” a union vote at his company.
The unique reply to the leader of an iconic rock band and the president of the United States followed a comment from Simmons that positively referred to Musk’s Tesla success as “game changers and should be heralded.”
“Actually, @elonmusk makes a solid point to Pres @JoeBiden. The President doesn’t mention Tesla, perhaps because Tesla is non-union and moved to Texas, a “right to work” state. Give Elon Musk/Tesla its due. They are game changers and should be heralded,” Simmons wrote.
Actually, @elonmusk makes a solid point to Pres @JoeBiden. The President doesn’t mention Tesla, perhaps because Tesla is non-union and moved to Texas, a “right to work” state. Give Elon Musk/Tesla its due. They are game changers and should be heralded. https://t.co/uZeJMVujAQ
— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) March 2, 2022
In an initial reply to Simmons, Musk noted Tesla has built two-thirds of all electric vehicles in North America. He claimed the total is twice as much as all other carmakers combined.
“Actually, we still operate our California factory, which is the largest auto plant in North America, at full capacity and are considering expanding it significantly,” Musk wrote.
“It has built 2/3 of all electric vehicles in North America, twice as much as all other carmakers combined,” he added.
Actually, we still operate our California factory, which is the largest auto plant in North America, at full capacity and are considering expanding it significantly.
It has built 2/3 of all electric vehicles in North America, twice as much as all other carmakers combined.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 3, 2022
Musk then added information regarding his challenge to lead Tesla in the Bay Area, adding that he would welcome a union vote.
“Our real challenge is Bay Area has negative unemployment, so if we don’t treat and compensate our (awesome) people well, they have many other offers and will just leave!” he wrote.
“I’d like hereby [sic] to invite UAW to hold a union vote at their convenience. Tesla will do nothing to stop them,” he added.
Our real challenge is Bay Area has negative unemployment, so if we don’t treat and compensate our (awesome) people well, they have many other offers and will just leave!
I’d like hereby to invite UAW to hold a union vote at their convenience. Tesla will do nothing to stop them.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 3, 2022
The Washington Post noted the significance of Musk addressing unionization at his growing company.
“Musk’s statement was particularly notable because the National Labor Relations Board has found that Tesla violated labor law in the past, ordering the company to give a fired worker his job back and demanding that Musk delete a tweet discouraging unionization. Most of the initial ruling was upheld in 2021,” the report stated.
During his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, Biden mentioned Ford and its manufacturing in the United States. The Daily Wire previously reported concerning Biden’s neglect of Tesla, as well as Musk’s response:
While the White House has frequently lauded the efforts of Ford and GM, Tesla — the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer — has often been omitted. The snubbing may lie in the fact that Tesla is not unionized, as White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki hinted last year when she was asked why Tesla was not invited to an electric vehicle summit in which Ford and GM participated.
On Twitter, Musk again pointed out the White House’s willingness to ignore Tesla’s role in promoting electric vehicles.
“Ford is investing $11B to build electric vehicles — creating 11,000 jobs across the country,” read a post from Biden’s Twitter account as the State of the Union speech concluded. “GM is making the largest investment in its history — $7B to build electric vehicles, creating 4,000 jobs in Michigan.”
“Tesla has created over 50,000 US jobs building electric vehicles & is investing more than double GM + Ford combined,” Musk responded to Biden’s Twitter post that mentioned GM and Ford without referring to Tesla.
Tesla has created over 50,000 US jobs building electric vehicles & is investing more than double GM + Ford combined
[fyi to person controlling this twitter]
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 2, 2022
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Source: Dailywire
