Why do Swedish dockworkers, electricians, cleaners and other workers boycott EV’s in solidarity? An analysis by IF Metall spokesperson Jesper Pettersson
The Texas-based auto company has not been able to unionize its workers in the United States. But the United Auto Workers union has set its sights on Tesla, after negotiating major deals with the Detroit Three automakers.
Goran Larsson is an inspector on a cargo ship and he informs the crew on all arriving vessels of the labor action and his assessment of whether or not any Teslas are on board.
The Swedish dockworkers, electricians, cleaners and other workers are going to boycott the US company in solidarity.
The majority of the Swedish population belong to trade unions and they are covered by contracts with their employers that set pay rates, insurance and pensions in each sector.
“This is the way we regulate working conditions in Sweden and has been for a long, long time,” said IF Metall spokesperson Jesper Pettersson. “It has been very beneficial for both parties – both for employers and for employees.”
The entire Swedish labor system, where trade unions are part of the fabric of the economy, is offended by the American EV maker’s attempts to circumvent collective bargaining.
“It’s very important to protect our model – it’s a fight for the model, not just for the Tesla workers,” Wreeth said, referring to his union’s solidarity boycott.
“We already offer better agreements than those covered by collective bargaining and find no reason to sign any other agreement, so we offer equivalent or better agreements,” he said.
If the first collective agreement ever with Musk’s company is signed in Sweden, it would have symbolic importance in other markets.
But German Bender, a labor market analyst at Stockholm think tank Arena Idé, said it’s unlikely Tesla will leave Sweden. And he doubts the Swedish unions will give up anytime soon – their fight, he said, is “too symbolically important” to abandon.
Anders Gustafsson, a former dockworker who now works for the Swedish transport workers’ union, said his union has received messages of support from unions in other countries, including in the U.S. and Canada.