In a surprising turn of events, Tesla’s plant manager, Andre Thierig, highlighted an unusual problem during a recent staff meeting at the company’s factory in Grünheide, Germany. Thierig revealed that a staggering 65,000 coffee mugs have gone missing since the factory began operations, as reported by Germany’s Handelsblatt newspaper.
Addressing the staff of approximately 12,000 employees, Thierig stated, “We’ve bought 65,000 coffee mugs since we started production here. Statistically speaking, each of you already has five Ikea coffee cups at home.” The manager’s frustration was clear as he threatened to remove cutlery from the break rooms if the thefts continued, eliciting laughter and applause from the crowd.
Environmental and Safety Concerns
The Tesla Gigafactory in Grünheide has been embroiled in controversy since its inception. After Germany secured the factory over bids from several other EU countries in 2019, environmentalists raised alarms over the impact of clearing hundreds of hectares of forest and potential groundwater contamination.
Criticism intensified with the start of production in 2022. A report by German magazine Stern alleged significant violations of worker safety and environmental laws at the plant. The investigation revealed that the Tesla facility had recorded three times as many emergencies as a comparable Audi plant in Ingolstadt.
In 2024, the factory became a focal point for environmental protests against its planned expansion. Despite intense opposition, the expansion was approved after a prolonged political struggle.
Internal Strife and Layoffs
Recent developments have further strained the atmosphere at the Grünheide plant. Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s directive to reduce the global workforce by 10% led to layoffs of many temporary and part-time employees. Although the Grünheide plant’s staff was only reduced by about 2%, there was significant unrest.
Works’ Council member Uwe Fischer informed Handelsblatt of “obvious pressure” on employees to accept “attractive” voluntary redundancy offers. IG Metall union secretary Jannes Bojert added that Tesla workers were experiencing extreme pressure, bullying, and frustration due to numerous safety incidents at the plant.
The workers’ council leader, Michaela Schmitz, recently reelected, countered these claims, asserting that the union was unduly influencing its members. The union, in response, denied any coercion, with Bojert accusing Musk and management of fostering anti-union sentiment, which he labeled “unconstitutional.” He mentioned that while a strike was a “last resort,” it was not off the table given the current tensions.