People could not get to Tesla Inc. are hired without signing an agreement that restricts them to distribute proprietary information, according to the senior director of human resources for the company's production and supply chain.
Josh Hedges, the Tesla manager, testified Wednesday in a National Labor Relations Relations Board, the first witness summoned by the electric car maker to defend against allegations filed by a regional director of the employment office.
The director accused the company of violations of federal labor law, including maintaining a strict confidentiality policy that infringes the rights of the employees and that retaliates against union workers.
Hedges have testified that Tesla has pursued a confidentiality policy since before joining in 2015 and that in 2016, after concerns about leaks, the company decided to also sign an acknowledgment of its existing employees to adhere to the confidentiality rules.
"We were asked to ensure that everyone" remembered the confidentiality policy, "he said, and the managers were told," Let people know why we had them sign the recognition – and that it was because of leaks. "
Tesla has said that all allegations of the Labor Council are incorrect. On Tuesday, Tesla's lawyer, Mark Ross, said he could question the Regional Director of the Labor Council about her handling of allegations against the company.
Stephan Graminger, former director of Tesla's body production, stated on Wednesday that he had taken the decision to terminate the employee who was dismissed illegally according to the labor commission, and that the employee's trade union activity did not play a role in the decision.
Hedges revealed at the beginning of his Wednesday statement that he recently filed his resignation with the company, with effect from 5 October. He is currently reporting to vice president of people and places Kevin Kassekert.
Hedges testified that during his work at Tesla he visited more than 10 times a Facebook page for the organizing campaign of the UAW.