Sweden: The Tesla strike… one year on

The issue of union leverage (or lack thereof) arises in this news item too. A recent article suggests that the unions are more than a match for Tesla and that it should “do the right thing” and sign an agreement with Metall. But… why is the Tesla strike in Sweden continuing after a year? 

Why it matters: Tesla’s sustained operations in Sweden amidst the strike raise critical questions about labor negotiation strategies. This case highlights the importance of understanding local labour laws and the potential impact on business continuity.

The big picture: The author says he has discovered some collective agreements Tesla has in France with CFDT which, he claims, undermines Tesla claims that it does not sign collective agreements. That may be the case. But undertakings in France are legally obliged to sign such agreements. That is not the case in Sweden which operates a “voluntarist” system. If an undertaking does not want to voluntarily negotiate a collective agreement then the unions can force it to do so by calling a strike. The unions called a strike and Tesla has not conceded. 

What’s next: The question that is not addressed is this: If Tesla does have collective agreements in France, then why did the CFDT in France not tell IF Metall in Sweden about their existence? If CFDT did tell them… why has Metall said nothing? 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Guardian article: “One year on, we know this: Sweden’s trade unions are more than a match for Elon Musk”.