A Swedish court sided with Tesla this week, saying striking postal workers must find a way to deliver license plates to the company.
On Monday, the Norrkoping District Court ruled that PostNord must deliver the plates to Tesla facilities or risk a fine of up to 1 million Swedish crowns, or $96,000.
Tesla sued the state-run PostNord postal service after its workers announced last week that they would support Tesla’s striking mechanics by halting all mail deliveries to the company.
Monday’s ruling constitutes a major win for Tesla in the electric vehicle company’s labor war in Sweden.
After contract talks between Tesla and its unionized Swedish mechanics went nowhere, over 100 workers went on strike in late October.
Soon after, the Swedish dock workers’ union joined the labor action by blockading all Swedish ports, ensuring Tesla couldn’t import parts.
On Nov. 20, PostNord workers announced they would no longer deliver essential mail like license plates to Tesla facilities.
Tesla has an anti-collective bargaining policy and has resisted any attempts at worker organization at its facilities worldwide. Many see the labor struggle in Sweden as a proving ground for the future of Tesla’s labor relations.
There have been rumblings in the industry concerning unionization at Tesla ever since United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain announced his intention to organize workers at the company.
But if Swedish courts are willing to side with Tesla, the strike may not have the results that the Swedish unions want.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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