UAW files labor charges against Trump, Musk

The action came after Musk and Trump held a two-hour conversation on social media platform X Monday night, during which the two discussed workers walking off the job to go on strike.

Former US president Donald Trump and Elon Musk are seen at the Firing Room Four after the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft on NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US May 30, 2020 (photo credit: REUTERS/JONATHAN ERNST)
Former US president Donald Trump and Elon Musk are seen at the Firing Room Four after the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft on NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US May 30, 2020
(photo credit: REUTERS/JONATHAN ERNST)

The United Auto Workers Union said on Tuesday it has filed federal labor charges against Donald Trump and Tesla TSLA.O CEO Elon Musk over attempts to threaten and intimidate workers.

The action came after Musk and Trump held a two-hour conversation on social media platform X Monday night, during which the two discussed workers walking off the job to go on strike.

"You're the greatest cutter," Trump said during the conversation. "I mean, I look at what you do. You walk in, you just say: 'You want to quit?' They go on strike - I won't mention the name of the company - but they go on strike. And you say: 'That's okay, you're all gone.'"

 US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris attends a campaign event in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, U.S., August 7, 2024.  (credit: REUTERS/KEVIN MOHATT)
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris attends a campaign event in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, U.S., August 7, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/KEVIN MOHATT)

Under federal law, workers cannot be fired for going on strike, and threatening to do so is illegal under the National Labor Relations Act, the UAW said in its statement.

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