Despite the ongoing strikes by IF Metall that began in October 2023, Tesla is forging ahead with its expansion in Sweden. The electric vehicle manufacturer is setting up a new repair facility and adding ten additional charging stations. This move comes amidst the union’s efforts to pressure Tesla into unionizing its workforce.
Recruitment and Union Resistance
In Huddinge, Stockholm, Tesla is actively recruiting for its forthcoming workshop, with positions open for painters, claims adjusters, and sheet metal workers. This development has attracted seven new hires. Meanwhile, IF Metall is not only picketing outside the new site but also attempting to enlist Tesla’s new recruits into the union.
Union Tactics and Employee Exclusion
Actions by IF Metall against unionized Tesla employees who are not participating in the strike have escalated, with reports of intimidation and threats. The union has conveyed to these employees that non-participation in the strike could lead to exclusion from future union representation and employment opportunities within unionized shops.
One such employee shared their experience of being ostracized by IF Metall for not joining the strike. They recounted receiving calls and messages that were perceived as threatening, insinuating that their refusal to strike would result in blacklisting from union jobs.
The contract secretary of IF Metall, Veli-Pekka Säikkälä, accuses Tesla of attempting to sidestep collective bargaining by not signing an agreement with the union. Målarna Communications Manager Johan Redén hinted at the possibility of escalating industrial action depending on Tesla’s responses.
While 13,000 members of the Painters’ Union have expressed solidarity with IF Metall by not working on Tesla vehicles, not all Swedish painters are unionized. Furthermore, IF Metall is considering extending its sympathy strike to disrupt the installation of new Tesla Superchargers, although existing strikes only affect servicing and repairs.
