The Tesla battle expands further. The painters’ sympathy blockade is done to support IF Metall in its ambition to sign a collective agreement with the American electric car giant.
In the past, several other LO unions have issued extensive sympathy notices. Among other things, Transport has blocked the unloading of Tesla cars in four Swedish ports, a blockade which next week will be extended to apply to all Swedish ports.
Harder to round
Now the Painters are also hanging on. In a first step, 53 workshop companies, painting workshops, around the country are notified, which means that from November 21 no painting or plastic work will be carried out on Tesla cars that need to be repaired. And if no solution is reached in the next few days, more than 50 companies will be picked out at the beginning of next week, for a total of more than 100. This means that, in principle, all workshops where the Painters’ LO union has members and agreements with the counterparty the Motor Industry Employers’ Association are set in a Tesla blockade.
This will make it more difficult for Tesla owners to get around the blockade.
“The idea is that it shouldn’t be possible to move the cars around,” says Johan Redén, communications manager at Målarna.
IF Metall’s strike at Tesla’s service center has now lasted for two weeks. So far, the visible effects have been limited. This is one of the reasons why more and more LO unions are pulling out. In many places, work is still being done, the union testifies and accuses the car giant of strike-breaking. And regarding the port blockade, Transport has indications that the cars will take other routes instead.
Tesla sees no reason
Tesla has so far said that it does not intend to sign any collective agreement.
“We already offer equivalent or better agreements than those covered by collective bargaining and find no reason to sign any other agreement,” wrote representatives of Tesla Sweden in a comment to TT on Tuesday.
The company is open to continued dialogue with IF Metall:
“During this period, we are committed to remaining available to our customers,” Tesla wrote at the time.