Topline
The largest union in Norway said it was considering halting Tesla deliveries through the country, just one day after Denmark’s dockworkers’ union announced it would do the same to support striking auto workers in Sweden.
Unions in Denmark and Norway are refusing to unload Tesla shipments across Scandinavia in solidarity … [+]
Key Facts
Tesla is facing sympathy strikes from two of the largest unions in Scandinavia after refusing to recognize a collective bargaining agreement with the Swedish metalworkers’ union.
On Tuesday, 3F, the Danish dockworkers’ union, announced it would refuse to unload shipments of Tesla vehicles from the port in Esbjerg—the only place where the electric vehicles are imported into the country.
The next day, Fellesforbundet, Norway’s general union for multiple industries, announced it was considering a similar action.
A representative for Fellesforbundet told Reuters the union was considering “blocking transportation of Tesla cars through Norway to Sweden unless Tesla reaches an agreement with Sweden’s IF Metall union,” an action that could start as early as December 20.
Tesla has not responded to a request for comment from Forbes.
Key Background
IF Metall, Sweden’s industrial metalworkers union that represents 241,951 workers across the country, began the strike at Tesla facilities in the country on October 27 after the company refused to recognize a contract for “decent and safe working conditions.” The union said labor actions like strikes are rare in Sweden due to the “long-standing Swedish tradition of over 100 years of negotiations between the labour market parties.” Sweden is one of the most unionized nations in Europe—about 70% of all workers in Sweden are unionized, and about 88% of all employees in the country benefit from collective bargaining agreements, according to the European Union. Secondary strikes quickly began across multiple sectors in Sweden, including by Sweden’s postal workers union, who refused to deliver license plates for Tesla vehicles. Musk called the unfolding situation “insane” and filed a lawsuit against the Swedish Transport Agency, calling the strike an “unlawful discriminatory attack.”
Crucial Quote
“Even if you are one of the richest in the world, you can’t just make your own rules,” Danish union chair Jan Villadsen said in a statement announcing the strike. “We have some labour market agreements in the Nordic region, and you have to comply with them if you want to run a business here.”
Further Reading
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2023/12/06/labor-strikes-could-halt-tesla-shipments-across-these-european-countries-heres-why/