In response to a major labor dispute, Swedish ports could block Teslas from entering the country. Local unions accuse the company of not respecting labor rules.
Swedish workers in Tesla’s repair shops, already on strike since last Friday, are demanding that the company sign a collective agreement. They could be followed by dock workers, who in turn threaten to block Tesla deliveries entering the country as a sign of solidarity.
Sweden is Tesla’s fifth market in Europe, with 16,309 vehicles sold in the first nine months of this year. Explanations of a grotesque situation for the American giant, which seeing its sales fall, did not necessarily need that.
In Sweden, Tesla faces a union dispute that threatens its deliveries
The labor dispute between Tesla and Swedish unions is escalating as employees at the company’s local repair shops continue their strike. Unions claim that Tesla does not respect labor rules, railing against Elon Musk’s firm, which refuses to sign a collective agreement. Swedish dockworkers are now threatening to block the arrival of new Teslas in the country in a show of solidarity with striking workers. The electric car manufacturer has never faced such a crisis in Europe until now.
Tesla deliveries in Sweden today pass through four ports: Malmö, Gothenburg, Trelleborg and Södertälje. The Swedish Transport Workers’ Union, which represents some 57,000 transport workers, has threatened to implement a blockade from November 7. If such an event were to occur, “ no Tesla could enter Sweden “, warns union president Tommy Wreeth. This could significantly disrupt Tesla’s operations in the elongated country.
The situation stems from Tesla’s refusal to sign a collective agreement with the Swedish union IF Metall, which represents workers at the company’s Swedish repair shops. It should be understood that in the country, collective agreements regulate relations between employers and employees, covering aspects such as remuneration, benefits and working conditions. IF Metall aims here to ensure that Tesla workers enjoy the same benefits as their industry counterparts.
Negotiations are underway with Tesla, to try to end the crisis
So what was Tesla’s reaction? The company has been conspicuously silent in the face of these accusations, but IF Metall spokesperson Jesper Pettersson points out that workers at Tesla’s repair shops in Sweden earn less and do not receive the same benefits as others. mechanics in the sector. IF Metall has been trying to obtain a collective agreement for several years now (2018, in particular). The workers this time appear determined to maintain the strike until an agreement is reached.
The repair shop strike has been criticized for being ineffective, as some workers appear to have continued working despite the strike. Faced with the threat of a blockade of Swedish ports, Tesla has resumed negotiations with IF Metall. They should also continue from this Monday, with hopes of a resolution of the conflict, even if the situation remains tense.
This conflict is in any case not unique to Sweden. Tesla workers in the United States have tried, unsuccessfully, to unionize. In Germany, the IG Metall union has raised concerns about safety and workload at the automaker’s European Gigafactory. This situation raises questions about Tesla’s commitment to labor standards and the well-being of its employees, like other giants before it, in a context where the automobile industry is at the heart of the green transition. The repercussions of this crisis could be felt well beyond Sweden’s borders.
Source : Wired
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