EVwire brief: After nearly three years, Tesla's labor dispute with Swedish union IF Metall appears to be approaching a turning point. Reports from Swedish media indicate that less than only a handful of Tesla mechanics remain on strike, with no active strikers reportedly left in Malmö ahead of IF Metall's planned resumption of industrial action this week.
According to Dagens Arbete, several remaining strikers have recently left Tesla after accepting buyout agreements, reducing the strike to just two participants in Stockholm and two in Uppsala, while others are on parental leave or vacation. Comments from a former striker on social media suggest that there are probably fewer than ten Tesla employees who remain on strike across the country.
Neither Tesla nor IF Metall commented on the reported buyouts.
As per Tesla Sweden watcher Anders Nyman:
The shrinking strike has prompted criticism from within IF Metall's own ranks. Speaking anonymously to Skånes Folkblad, one former striker from Malmö said he still supports the goal of securing a collective agreement at Tesla but believes the union mishandled the conflict.
"I have stood and still stand for this, but we haven't gotten competent support from IF Metall."
Several former strikers told the outlets they feel abandoned by the union. One told Dagens Arbete he suspects IF Metall wanted them to give up all along, saying the union is now "walking away scot-free" while the strikers take the blame for the collapse.
You can't stand there and say we're going to continue for 500 years and then not be able to back it up. The leadership should step down and make room for those who have genuine commitment and know what reality looks like on the shop floor.
The strike began in October 2023 with dozens of mechanics. Nearly three years later, just four remain.
Roger Olsson, chair of IF Metall's regional branch in southwestern Skåne, said he understands the frustration. He stressed that IF Metall has not withdrawn its demands and that the conflict is not over.
Context:
The Tesla-IF Metall conflict began in October 2023 when a number of mechanics walked out over Tesla's refusal to sign a collective bargaining agreement, a cornerstone of Sweden's labor model. The strike triggered sympathy actions from other Swedish unions, including postal workers, electricians, and dock workers.
The past year has been marked by steady attrition. IF Metall introduced a 40-hour weekly picket requirement earlier this year that drew anger from strikers. The union also faced fallout from a tax payment error that left members without social insurance. In May, IF Metall chair Marie Nilsson acknowledged there is a "limit" to how long the strike can continue.
Source: Skånes Folkblad, Dagens Arbete
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