2025-10-27 12:30
publication
2025-10-27 12:30
70 mechanics from service centers in Sweden stand against Tesla almost like David against Goliath. The protest is in its second year, and at its center is one of the foundations of the local work culture – the right of trade unions to negotiate wages and working conditions on behalf of their members.
In Sweden, about 90 percent employees are covered by a collective labor agreement, and approximately 70 percent belongs to trade unions. Therefore, it is nothing special that they represent employees, among others: during salary talks. This must have been a shock for Elon Musk, whose views on trade unions were easy to predict.
I just don't like anything that creates division, something like lords and peasants. I think that trade unions create a negative attitude in the company – he said, among others. at a speech in New York in 2023.
When Tesla entered Sweden, IF Metal wanted to conclude a collective labor agreement. – We had the impression that they did not want to talk to us about this topic – describe trade unionists. There was nothing left to do but announce a strike, which began on October 27, 2023 – explains BBC News. As they point out, “usually the threat itself is enough and the company signs the contract.” But this time it didn't work. After the protest was announced, 70 of the 130 mechanics working for Tesla still came to work. The vacancies were quickly filled.
– It's not illegal, which is important to understand. But it is contrary to all accepted norms. But Tesla doesn't care about standards. They want to break the norms. So if someone tells them: hey, you're breaking the norm, they'll take it as a compliment, sums up German Bender, a researcher at Arena Idé, a think tank funded by Swedish trade unions, on BBC News.
Protesting mechanics stand in front of Tesla workshops, including: in the industrial park in Malmo. The IF Metall trade union provides them with accommodation in the form of a car, coffee and sandwiches. However, they are not completely alone. Members of other trade unions show solidarity with them. Dockers in Denmark, Norway and Finland refused to operate Teslas. Garbage from Tesla's Swedish plants is also not collected, anNewly built charging stations are not connected to the network (e.g. 20 chargers stand idle at a station near Stockholm airport).
For now, there is no end in sight to the impasse. Because both sides are playing for high stakes: both IF Metal and Tesla are trying to create a dangerous precedent. Additionally, Elon Musk does not want to show that anyone can order him around. According to experts, he does not perceive talks with the unions as an invitation to negotiations, but as an ultimatum.
ed. aw
