A coordinated strike effort by the Vision Union and IF Metall continues to hamper Tesla’s operations in Sweden. However, a recent decision could ease up some of the pressure.
The strike has been going on for several months and has targeted all parts of Tesla’s supply chain, including service centres and vehicle deliveries.
In addition to the unions, multiple companies have also joined or added the job action, including Kone, Allround Lack and Linde, one of Sweden’s largest trucking companies.
A ruling by the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions has deemed an upcoming planned blockade of a Tesla service centre as an illegal industrial action. IF Metall and Vision have confirmed they will follow the ruling, but other actions will remain in place.
IF Metall and Vision both want Tesla to sign collective bargaining agreements with workers to enshrine wage increases, work hours and pension details. This is a standard practice in the Scandinavian country, and so far, Tesla has refused to entertain the idea.
For Tesla, the refusal to sign collective bargaining agreements seems to be company policy in Europe. In Germany, Tesla and IG Metall, the country’s largest union, have been clashing for the past several years over issues at Tesla’s Giga Berlin plant and associated offices.
With the ongoing turmoil in Sweden, Tesla sales have taken a nosedive in what was once one of its strongest European markets. In November, Tesla sold 588 vehicles, a 59% year-over-year decrease.
