The ongoing labor dispute between Tesla and Swedish trade union IF Metall has escalated, with several Nordic unions joining in solidarity to push for a collective bargaining agreement.
This labor conflict began when around 130 workers affiliated with IF Metall initiated a strike on October 27, triggering sympathy strikes from various sectors, including dockworkers, cleaners, and car dealerships.
Unlike the United States, where such actions are largely prohibited, sympathy strikes are generally legal in Nordic countries.
In a historical context, the situation bears resemblance to a 1990s labor dispute involving American toy company Toys “R” Us, which ultimately signed a collective agreement with its 130 Swedish employees following a three-month strike that also featured sympathy strikes and blockades.
Here’s an overview of the solidarity actions that have added pressure on Tesla, potentially disrupting its supply chain in Sweden, where the Tesla Model Y was the top-selling car in 2023 with 16,412 new vehicles registered:
- Sweden’s transport workers’ union vowed in November to block the loading and unloading of Tesla cars at the country’s ports. A dockworkers’ union also announced it would not handle Tesla vehicles in Swedish harbors starting from November 17.
- Seko, representing service and communications workers, initiated a blockade of mail and parcel deliveries at Tesla’s Swedish workplaces by logistics firms PostNord and CityMail on November 20, affecting the EV maker’s access to license plates from the country’s transport authority.
- The union of civil servants announced that its members at PostNord would halt deliveries to Tesla from November 21.
- In November, the electricians’ union pledged to obstruct electrical repair work at Tesla facilities and charging stations, while a painters’ union warned of plans to cease painting Tesla cars.
- Building maintenance workers’ union suspended all work related to Tesla from November 17, and a building workers’ union committed to halting maintenance and construction work at Tesla service workshops.
- The transport workers’ union stopped collecting waste at Tesla’s workshops in Sweden starting from December 29.
- Swedish municipal workers’ union Kommunal ceased waste collection from Tesla’s facilities in Mölndal and Örebro from January 2, as announced on December 14, and also intends to prevent waste collection by other service providers.
- Unionized workers at Hydro Extrusions, a subsidiary of Norwegian aluminum and energy company Hydro, ceased work on Tesla car products from November 24. These workers are members of IF Metall.
- Sweden’s musicians’ union declared on November 14 that it would block some music from Tesla cars’ media systems.
Additionally, some Swedish pension funds have urged Tesla to sign the agreement with the union, though they have not yet sold their shares.
In neighboring Norway, the largest private sector labor union announced on December 6 its intention to block transit shipments of Tesla cars intended for the Swedish market from December 20 unless an agreement with IF Metall is reached.
=The Danish dockworkers’ union also declared on December 5 that it would not unload or transport Tesla cars for Swedish customers.
Furthermore, PensionDanmark, one of Denmark’s largest pension funds, disclosed on December 6 that it had decided to divest its holdings in Tesla due to the automaker’s refusal to engage in agreements with labor unions.
Lastly, the Finnish transport workers’ union stated on December 7 that its dockers would not load Tesla vehicles and components destined for Sweden in all Finnish ports from December 20.