Tesla wants a new tool in its arsenal as it continues to wage war against trade unions
Tesla wants to hire someone with “a proven track record of getting regulatory changes made in the Nordics” as the company continues to battle trade unions across several countries, including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.
The industrial action, which started as a dispute between workers in Sweden, has since seen the company come under pressure from multiple nations in the region, with several trade collectives joining forces to give Tesla their share of headaches.
In addition to Tesla service personnel walking out, it has seen the company contend with sympathy strikes from other industries, including dockworkers refusing to handle their cars in Norway, Swedish postal workers failing to deliver license plates, and even refuse collectors threatening to halt pickups from Tesla stores.
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Despite support for the workers seemingly snowballing, the American EV maker seems unwilling to back away from the fight. So much so that a report from Business Insider states that Tesla is now looking for their own in-house resource to help navigate the region’s political, regulatory, and fiscal frameworks. The Nordic problem solver (or “Public Policy and Business Development Manager, Nordics,” if you go by the official opening posted on Tesla’s careers page) is expected to bring with them “a proven track record of getting regulatory changes made in the Nordics.”
But winning this battle may require more than just a new recruit. The problem started in late October when IF Metall, a Swedish trade union, announced its walkout. It was after Tesla refused to sign a collective agreement for its 120 workers. Unlike many other countries, Sweden does not have a minimum wage, with such collective bargaining agreements used by many companies and unions to ensure fair compensation. Although collective agreements are commonplace in Sweden, Tesla claims it goes against their practices.
Read: Swedish Union Wishes Elon Musk Merry Christmas By Refusing To Pick Up Tesla’s Garbage
And, while Sweden could be considered a relatively small market for Elon Musk’s company, signing such a collective bargain could set a precedent that other nations and trade unions may follow. Similarly, if Swedish workers were to back down, it could give other companies leverage to not come to such agreements in the future.
In a post on his social media platform, X, Tesla CEO Elon Musk called the labor action against the company “insane.” But Tesla isn’t the first American company to run into problems with the practice of collective agreements in Sweden. Business Insider reports that in the 1990s, Toys R Us staff walked out when the company refused to do the same. That strike lasted three months, and the toy retailer finally gave in to the employees’ union demands.
Who do you think will be the first to cave in this instance?