After the entire country of Sweden seemingly organized against his company, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has finally responded.
Reacting to a report that Swedish mail carriers won’t deliver packages and parts to Tesla facilities, Mr. Musk called the situation “insane.”
The battle over the future of Tesla in Sweden began in late October, when over 120 Tesla mechanics moved to unionize and negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with the company.
After negotiations reportedly went nowhere, the workers went on strike, supported by the union IF Metall.
Since around 90% of Sweden’s workers are represented by a union, many other industries have come out in solidarity with the striking mechanics.
Soon after the IF Metall strike was announced, the Swedish dock workers union said it would block the importation of Tesla parts and cars from certain ports. A week later, the dockworkers announced that the blockade would be nationwide.
The mail carriers soon followed, meaning Tesla wouldn’t get important mail and parts to their many facilities. Tesla doesn’t manufacture cars in Sweden but does have maintenance facilities there.
Tesla workers in Sweden are asking for better wages and benefits that are more in line with their unionized counterparts across the country.
Mr. Musk’s comments on the situation confirm that he’s aware of the growing labor war in Sweden, so he could get more involved in negotiations.
Tesla and Mr. Musk have been anti-union for years and have resisted any attempts to organize at any of their plants in the U.S. or abroad. But after seeing the solidarity among workers in Sweden, Tesla plants in the U.S. and Europe could use it as an example.
United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain has said his union will try to organize Tesla facilities soon, and German unions have long pressured Tesla to agree on a collective bargaining agreement to bring wages up to the national standard.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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