OK, so, I showed the article to my dad. He wasn't surprised at all and told me quite some stuff. Here is the summary of the interesting points:
* It is normal that people have (paid!) vacation when there is stuff to be done where maintenance only works. It is called 'Werksurlaub' (roughly: 'factory vacation') and this you-have-to-take-vacation-period is announced in the beginning of the year and it has been like that since 30 years him working there.
* When they need to retool, if possible (most of the time) the new tool is put in line behind the to-be-replaced tool without stopping the production line and then they run-in the new tool with taking over cycles gradually.
* When there are 'incidents' or the production line has to be stopped, this is announced ahead of time and the production workers have to take a so-called 'Kollektivfreischicht' (roughly: 'collective non-working shift'), where the whole line works overtime prior to the incident and then take time in lieu collectively. There is also a funny German word for this 'taking time in lieu', it is called '[Überstunden] abfeiern' (lit: 'to party down [overtime]').
Also, he told me some not very nice things about the automotive industry. Especially when final assembly is standing still (unforeseen incident in production line) - that is, hundreds of people unable to work and costing money.
I interpret this, however, as general property of the (automotive) industry and you can read about it elsewhere.
You're talking about a German, highly regulated situation, which, while interesting, might not really apply to the situation in the US and more specifically at Tesla.
It's apparently quite sudden and unpaid, very different from your father's situation.
I agree. Nevertheless, considering the topic of being pushed/forced to take vacation because of maintenance: Same thing in 'traditional automotive industry' in Germany is my impression.
In American English, "Überstunden" is often called "comp time" - comp for compensation - you worked really hard overtime/to meet a deadline, take some paid days off (usually not officially vacation etc.) to make up for the time you spent...
* It is normal that people have (paid!) vacation when there is stuff to be done where maintenance only works. It is called 'Werksurlaub' (roughly: 'factory vacation') and this you-have-to-take-vacation-period is announced in the beginning of the year and it has been like that since 30 years him working there.
* When they need to retool, if possible (most of the time) the new tool is put in line behind the to-be-replaced tool without stopping the production line and then they run-in the new tool with taking over cycles gradually.
* When there are 'incidents' or the production line has to be stopped, this is announced ahead of time and the production workers have to take a so-called 'Kollektivfreischicht' (roughly: 'collective non-working shift'), where the whole line works overtime prior to the incident and then take time in lieu collectively. There is also a funny German word for this 'taking time in lieu', it is called '[Überstunden] abfeiern' (lit: 'to party down [overtime]').
Also, he told me some not very nice things about the automotive industry. Especially when final assembly is standing still (unforeseen incident in production line) - that is, hundreds of people unable to work and costing money. I interpret this, however, as general property of the (automotive) industry and you can read about it elsewhere.