The strike against the American electric car manufacturer has lasted for three weeks. But the effects on Tesla’s operations have been limited. The unions testify to how the company is getting around the transport blockade, and IF Metall notices that work is almost as usual at some of Tesla’s ten service centers around the country.
Strike-breaking, roars IF Metall, which itself expanded the strike measures and also received help from its LO colleagues. Today, Friday, Transport extends the port blockade to apply to all Swedish ports, around 50.
The extended blockade must be seen in the light of the fact that the Transport Union has seen clear indications that the company is rounding off the blockade. Some cars via the pure vehicle boats no longer arrive, on the other hand, cars arrive on truck trailers loaded on other types of ships or via Nordic ports, in smaller volumes then of course, according to Transport’s press officer Elin Lörnbo.
“awkward”
Transports are not stopped, but made more difficult, is the union’s view. Normally, several car ships with Tesla cars call at Swedish ports every week, several port managers have testified.
– It will be difficult for Tesla, costly, says IF Metall’s contract secretary Veli-Pekka Säikkälä about the partial effects of the strike.
– And all the warnings haven’t gone through yet, he continues.
The next step could be concrete sympathy measures from Nordic transport unions to further complicate transport, for example at Norwegian and Danish ports. The other day, the Nordic transport unions adopted a statement of support for IF Metall, which is driving the primary conflict – a demand for a collective agreement for the workshop workers who work at Tesla’s service center.
On Friday, the cleaners also stop work at Tesla. The electricians stop performing service and repairs. On Monday, the mail and package aisle will stop, while from Tuesday next week the paint union will block all painting and plastic work on Tesla cars at over 100 workshops.
Many customers
The Swedish company management does not want to comment on the new tours, but has previously told TT that the agreements the company has with its employees are good enough. No other agreements are current. In addition, it was announced that operations must be kept running so that customers are not affected as far as possible.
And there are many customers involved, who may suffer from delayed deliveries or problems at the workshop. Statistics from the industry organization Mobility Sweden show that Tesla’s Model Y is Sweden’s best-selling car so far this year. Overall, including all models, there have been around 17,000 new Tesla cars registered through October. That corresponds to roughly seven percent of all new cars this year, according to CEO Mattias Bergman.
If the strikes start to bite, it can quickly show in the registration statistics.
No contacts between the parties are currently taking place, nor are there any planned.
“Right now the situation is locked,” writes mediator Kurt Eriksson in a text message to TT.