Dozens of workers in Tesla's Autopilot department at its Buffalo plant in New York were seen packing their bags following a crackdown by the company after workers launched a unionisation campaign. 

The incident came to light after a complaint was lodged with a government agency. 

According to media reports, Tesla employees in New York had earlier announced their intention to unionise with Workers United Upstate New York, which would provide them with a voice in the workplace.

On Wednesday, the Workers United Upstate New York union filed a complaint with the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), accusing the world’s most valuable automaker of retaliating by terminating some of its employees after they expressed support for the union. 

In its statement, the union revealed that over 30 employees had been fired and that the company had sent an email to staff containing an updated policy that prohibits the recording of workplace meetings without the permission of all participants. 

The union argued that this policy violates federal labor law and New York’s one-party consent law governing the recording of conversations.

The employees had requested that Tesla respect their right to unionise and sign the Fair Election Principles, which would prevent the company from threatening or retaliating against them.