The 11 October 2023 marks a year since Swedish union IF Metal started strike actions against electric car manufacturer Tesla.

It has been more than two years since the unions first attempt to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with Tesla for its members, who service and repair vehicles at TM Sweden AB. Last October 11 all negotiations hit a dead end.

In Sweden, almost 90 per cent of the workforce is covered by a collective agreement, across all sectors. Yet despite the union’s efforts, Tesla has staunchly refused to sign a collective bargaining agreement, arguing that it does not fit with the company’s business model. This refusal has left Swedish Tesla employees without the benefits and protection of a collective agreement.

In opposition to Tesla’s anti-union attitude, Swedish unions across different industries have taken solidarity action in the last year to protect the right to collective bargaining, resulting in, among other things, the non-delivery of license plates for new Tesla cars.

Solidarity for the strikers spread beyond Sweden’s borders. In December 2023 Danish transport union 3F Transport announced a blockade of the manufacturer’s cars in Danish ports. This was followed by similar actions by Fellesforbundet in Norway and AKT in Finland.

Elsewhere workers in Tesla are also fighting for union rights. In Germany, IG Metall gained seats in the works council for the first time in the latest internal elections at the beginning of 2024. However, following anti-union actions in the Grünheide site, IG Metall has been unable to negotiate a collective agreement leaving workers unable to benefit from collective terms & conditions.

“IndustriAll Europe will continue to stand with Swedish Tesla workers as long as necessary and will resist any attempts to weaken unions and collective bargaining in Europe. Tesla has much to gain by learning from the European social model and accepting unions as partners in the industrial transformation it has pledged to lead” said Judith Kirton-Darling industriAll Europe’s General secretary.

“What is at stake at Tesla Sweden is nothing less than the future of the European social model. I am proud to be with Tesla workers today who are taking an important stand for workers’ and trade union rights that ensure people are paid fairly and are safe at work.

“Elon Musk has made his agenda very clear: he says he disagrees with the entire concept of trade unions and is trying to make the green transition about union busting’.

“Musk can make up his own rules when he reaches Mars but if you want to do business in Europe, then you need to play by Europe’s rules and that means respecting our tradition of collective bargaining.” Said Esther Lynch, ETUC general secretary