IF Metall-affiliated workers started a strike at Tesla's facilities in Sweden on Oct. 27, sparking sympathy strikes from dockworkers, cleaners and car dealerships.
Sympathy strikes are generally legal in Nordic countries, unlike in the U.S. where such actions are largely prohibited.
In the 1990s, Toys "R" Us of the U.S. signed a collective agreement with its 130 Swedish employees after a strike that was also accompanied by sympathy strikes and blockades. IF Metall has allowed its mechanics to repair undrivable Tesla cars at independent workshops between Feb. 19 and April 30, easing pressure on private customers and workshops. Below is an overview of sympathy actions that are adding pressure to Tesla by potentially disrupting its supply chain in Sweden, where its Model Y was 2023's top-selling car:
SWEDEN
Sweden's transport workers' union pledged in November to block loading and unloading of Tesla cars across the country's ports. A dockworkers' union also said it would not handle Tesla cars in Swedish harbours. Trade union Seko, which represents service and communications workers, halted the installation and servicing of Tesla's charging stations on March 4 and said it also plans to block other service providers from doing the work. Seko had started a blockade in November of delivery and collection of mail and parcels at Tesla's Swedish workplaces by logistics firms PostNord and CityMail, cutting the EV maker's access to license plates from the country's transport authority.
The union of civil servants also said its members at PostNord, owned by the Swedish and Danish states, would pause deliveries to Tesla from Nov. 21.
The electricians' union vowed in November to block electrical repair works at Tesla facilities and charging stations, and a painters' union warned it planned to stop painting Tesla cars.
The building maintenance workers' union halted all work related to the automaker from Nov. 17, while a building workers' union pledged to halt maintenance and construction work at Tesla service workshops.
The transport workers' union stopped collecting waste at Tesla's workshops in Sweden from Dec. 29.
Swedish municipal workers' union Kommunal also stopped waste collection from Tesla's facilities in Molndal and Orebro from Jan. 2. It also plans to block waste collection by other service providers. Unionised workers at Hydro Extrusions, a subsidiary of Norwegian aluminium and energy company Hydro, stopped work on Tesla car products from Nov. 24. The workers are members of IF Metall.
Sweden's musicians' union said on Nov. 14 it would block some music from Tesla cars' media systems.
Some Swedish pension funds have urged Tesla to sign the agreement with the union, but so far held off selling shares.
Sweden's largest private sector union, Unionen, has announced a blockade from May 14, affecting all of DEKRA Industrial AB's work for Tesla, including vehicle lift inspections at Tesla's workshops.
NORWAY Norway's largest private sector labour union said on Dec. 6 it would start blocking transit shipments of Tesla cars meant for the Swedish market from Dec. 20, unless the automaker reached an agreement with IF Metall.
The union said it intended to send a "clear signal to Tesla" and do what was necessary to ensure that any vehicle shipments via Norway to Sweden were blocked.
DENMARK Danish dockworkers' union said on Dec. 5 it would not unload or transport cars made by Tesla for Swedish customers. PensionDanmark, one of the country's largest pension funds, said on Dec. 6 it had decided to sell its holdings in Tesla over the its refusal to enter into agreements with labour unions.
FINLAND Finnish transport workers' union said on Dec. 7 its dockers would not load Tesla vehicles and components destined for Sweden in all Finnish ports from Dec. 20.
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