Tesla may have to outsource the installation and maintenance of its charging stations in Sweden.
Swedish trade union Seko announced Wednesday it will join Tesla’s mechanics and other trade unions in Scandinavia in a work stoppage against the company.
Seko said that unless the electric vehicle giant agrees to a collective bargaining agreement by March 4, its members will no longer install or maintain the company’s charging facilities.
“The fight that IF Metall is now taking is important for the entire Swedish collective agreement model,” Seko President Gabriella Lavecchia said of the planned strike.
If Seko goes ahead with its planned strike next month, it would be joining other trade unions from across the region.
The labor battle began in October, when Tesla’s mechanics in Sweden joined up with the IF Metall union. After Tesla refused to sign a collective agreement, a typical practice in Scandinavian countries, the mechanics went on strike.
News of the strike spread throughout the country, and soon other industries saw their own unions joining the strike against Tesla. Swedish transport, postal and garbage unions have all vowed not to service Tesla until it signs a collective agreement. The strikes soon spread outside of the country, with Norwegian and Danish unions agreeing to not service Tesla.
While the strikes have been a strain on Tesla, the company has seemingly found ways to limit the impact by hiring more nonunion workers. However, if Sweden’s Tesla charging ports aren’t installed or serviced, the effects of the strike could finally hit customers in the country.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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