Swedish postal workers have joined the ongoing strike against Tesla, sparked by the carmaker’s refusal to sign a collective bargaining agreement, disrupting deliveries and escalating tensions in the industrial dispute.
Postal workers in Sweden have joined the strike against Tesla over the US electric carmaker’s refusal to sign a collective agreement on wages.
The strike began at the end of October when 130 mechanics at 10 Tesla workshops in seven Swedish cities walked out. It has since spread to several other workshops responsible for repairing Elon Musk’s electric cars, causing disruption to the unloading of Tesla vehicles at ports.
The Service and Communications Employees Union (Seko) said on Monday that it had decided to stop the delivery and collection of mail and parcels to all Tesla sites in Sweden, including those serviced by the PostNord and CityMail groups.
As a result, the transport of vital spare parts and components needed for repairs will be severely affected.
Tesla in conflict with Swedish regulations
Gabriella Lavecchia, president of Seko, stressed in a statement that Tesla’s non-compliance with the applicable labour regulations in Sweden is an attempt to gain a competitive advantage by offering workers wages and conditions that are inferior to those laid down in a collective agreement.
The Swedish labour market model relies heavily on sectoral collective agreements, which cover almost 90% of the country’s workforce and guarantee minimum wages and acceptable working conditions.
Despite being union members, Tesla workers find themselves excluded from sectoral agreements because the company refuses to sign such agreements. With 127,000 employees worldwide, Tesla has consistently rejected calls for unionisation.
This stance has been supported by nine other unions, including IF Metall, which has announced solidarity measures with Tesla workers and plans to stop maintenance work at Tesla sites from 28 November.
While the impact of the strike on Tesla’s operations in Sweden has so far been limited, the company has reportedly sought alternative means of delivery, including road transport, raising questions about the effectiveness of the ongoing industrial action.
IF Metall has accused Tesla of undermining the strike, further exacerbating tensions between the company and its workforce in Sweden.
