Norwegian and Danish Dockworkers to Go On Strike Against Tesla

Two unions representing dockworkers in Danish and Norwegian ports have issued notices stating their refusal to handle Tesla automobiles destined for Sweden.

The primary reason behind these strikes is an enterprise agreement affecting approximately 120-130 mechanics employed in Tesla’s maintenance operations in Sweden. While this agreement does not directly impact the dockworkers, they are staging sympathy strikes in solidarity with the mechanics.

IF Metall, a prominent union in Sweden boasting over 300,000 members across various industries, including manufacturing, chemical, mining, and automotive sectors, initiated a strike against Tesla on October 27th following unsuccessful negotiation attempts. The crux of the dispute revolves around IF Metall’s demand for Tesla to provide collective agreements ensuring what the union considers fair and safe working conditions, adequate wages, employment terms, work hours, pension benefits, vacations, and notice periods.

Following the strike initiated by the Swedish union, rumors circulated that Tesla might reroute its vehicles intended for Sweden to nearby nations and subsequently transport them to its Swedish facility. IF Metall rallied for solidarity from allied unions, resulting in declarations of sympathy strikes. These actions encompassed Sweden’s dockworkers declining to handle Tesla cars, the Swedish Postal workers withholding delivery of Tesla license plates and mail packages destined for Tesla facilities, electricians’ unions refraining from conducting electrical repair works, painters’ unions abstaining from painting Tesla cars, and the building maintenance workers’ union discontinuing maintenance and construction services.

Unions in neighboring countries have also taken a stand. Denmark’s 3F union released a statement on December 5th declaring their refusal to unload and transport Tesla vehicles destined for Sweden. Similarly, Fellesforbundet, Norway’s largest private sector union, issued a two-week notice to begin a boycott aimed at transporting Tesla cars to Sweden. Reports also suggest that Finnish unions are contemplating similar boycotts.