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Seems like even the unions are starting to get frustrated with IF Metal:


At 12:00 today, the Transport Workers' Union enters the Tesla conflict on IF Metall's side. Transport has announced a blockade of loading and unloading of Tesla cars in four ports. The measure affects four ports that have collective agreements and that had expected labor peace. Transport returned today with an extension of the blockade. From 17 November it may apply to all Swedish ports. The Port Workers' Union today posted a similar notice .

Jörgen Nilsson, CEO of Trelleborgs hamn AB says that he feels divided on the issue of industrial action that affects companies that have agreed to a labor peace agreement. He strives for as good a dialogue as possible with the trade unions. As an employer, the port of Trelleborg protects the Swedish model, he says.

- And part of that is having a collective agreement. Thus, we need to have solidarity with this type of actions. That's one side. But the second is that we want labor peace and we are not part of this. I know no details of the conflict and cannot influence. But now it is as it is and we have no intention of circumventing the blockade.

Loading and unloading of cars is a new and still quite small part of the business in Trelleborg's port, according to Jörgen Nilsson.

- But it is important. Tesla is a good customer for us, we are positive about the goods and the blockade will be a financial loss, of course. As simple as that.

Transport blockade only applies to Tesla cars. In practical terms, the notice has meant that Tesla will not transport any cars via the port of Trelleborg from today, according to Jörgen Nilsson.

- I don't know where those cars go, he says.

The four ports are not the only collective agreement signing companies that have been drawn into the Tesla conflict. Since last Friday, IF Metall has been carrying out sympathy strikes against the handling of Tesla cars at 17 workshops, including Axess, Holmgrens Bil and Werksta.

At the Motor Industry Employers' Association, head of negotiations Hanna Alsén is critical.

"What is remarkable is that IF Metall and the Transport Workers' Union are now notifying our member companies that already have collective agreements," she comments in a press release .

At the employer organization Sveriges Hamnar, head of negotiations Johan Grauers is also critical.

"We see that the warnings in this case risk hitting the hardest against the companies that actually stand up for this model," he comments in the press release.


The transport companies, which include the Motor Industry Employers' Association and Sweden's Ports, decline an interview with Lag&Avtal.

In the morning, Almega received a notice of sympathy measures from the Real Estate Employees' Association. This applies to two cleaning companies that are members of the Almega service unions and that clean Tesla's premises. Union director Stefan Koskinen says that the two companies have collective agreements and decent terms.

- Nevertheless, they are threatened by a strike. It is outrageous that the LO unions proceed in this way. There's no telling Elon Musk will give up. Does LO then intend to close the whole country? Then we shoot ourselves in the foot.


Stefan Koskinen believes that Sweden, which has perhaps the world's freest regulation of industrial action, must consider limitations.

- We can start by looking at our neighboring countries.

Almega does not currently have a clear proposal, but it could be about demands that industrial action be proportionate in relation to which company is affected, how it is connected to the core of the conflict and how third parties are affected, says Stefan Koskinen.
 
The press seems to get it: https://www.kristianstadsbladet.se/ledare/frihet-skapade-tesla-inte-kollektivavtal/

Despite the fact that within the Swedish model, there is actually freedom to enter into collective agreements – or not. And despite the fact that Tesla already complies with Swedish labor market rules and offers equivalent or better agreements than those covered by collective bargaining.

For the LO unions, it is about maintaining and strengthening their own power, rather than out of concern for those who work in Tesla's workshops. It's not pretty when they punish employers who haven't done anything wrong.
Collective agreements have many advantages, for both employers and employees, but if you still do not want to enter into one, it must be respected. Six out of ten smaller companies – upwards of 200,000 – have chosen not to have a collective agreement, but they do not have to be inferior clients for that. On the contrary.
Sweden will be a poorer country if we cannot see the value of freedom and flexibility.
 

That's an editorial article in a newspaper that is liberal. Liberal in a Swedish context is to the right on the Swedish political spectrum. It's associated with this political party:


The author Sofia Nerbrand is a former leading member of that political party's youth wing – Liberal Youth of Sweden.

And this isn't uncommon at all in Sweden. Some 10 million people live in Sweden. There is of course a certain opposition to IF Metall within Sweden as well.

 
Last edited:
Seems like even the unions are starting to get frustrated with IF Metal:


At 12:00 today, the Transport Workers' Union enters the Tesla conflict on IF Metall's side. Transport has announced a blockade of loading and unloading of Tesla cars in four ports. The measure affects four ports that have collective agreements and that had expected labor peace. Transport returned today with an extension of the blockade. From 17 November it may apply to all Swedish ports. The Port Workers' Union today posted a similar notice .

Jörgen Nilsson, CEO of Trelleborgs hamn AB says that he feels divided on the issue of industrial action that affects companies that have agreed to a labor peace agreement. He strives for as good a dialogue as possible with the trade unions. As an employer, the port of Trelleborg protects the Swedish model, he says.

- And part of that is having a collective agreement. Thus, we need to have solidarity with this type of actions. That's one side. But the second is that we want labor peace and we are not part of this. I know no details of the conflict and cannot influence. But now it is as it is and we have no intention of circumventing the blockade.

Loading and unloading of cars is a new and still quite small part of the business in Trelleborg's port, according to Jörgen Nilsson.

- But it is important. Tesla is a good customer for us, we are positive about the goods and the blockade will be a financial loss, of course. As simple as that.

Transport blockade only applies to Tesla cars. In practical terms, the notice has meant that Tesla will not transport any cars via the port of Trelleborg from today, according to Jörgen Nilsson.

- I don't know where those cars go, he says.

The four ports are not the only collective agreement signing companies that have been drawn into the Tesla conflict. Since last Friday, IF Metall has been carrying out sympathy strikes against the handling of Tesla cars at 17 workshops, including Axess, Holmgrens Bil and Werksta.

At the Motor Industry Employers' Association, head of negotiations Hanna Alsén is critical.

"What is remarkable is that IF Metall and the Transport Workers' Union are now notifying our member companies that already have collective agreements," she comments in a press release .

At the employer organization Sveriges Hamnar, head of negotiations Johan Grauers is also critical.

"We see that the warnings in this case risk hitting the hardest against the companies that actually stand up for this model," he comments in the press release.


The transport companies, which include the Motor Industry Employers' Association and Sweden's Ports, decline an interview with Lag&Avtal.

In the morning, Almega received a notice of sympathy measures from the Real Estate Employees' Association. This applies to two cleaning companies that are members of the Almega service unions and that clean Tesla's premises. Union director Stefan Koskinen says that the two companies have collective agreements and decent terms.

- Nevertheless, they are threatened by a strike. It is outrageous that the LO unions proceed in this way. There's no telling Elon Musk will give up. Does LO then intend to close the whole country? Then we shoot ourselves in the foot.


Stefan Koskinen believes that Sweden, which has perhaps the world's freest regulation of industrial action, must consider limitations.

- We can start by looking at our neighboring countries.

Almega does not currently have a clear proposal, but it could be about demands that industrial action be proportionate in relation to which company is affected, how it is connected to the core of the conflict and how third parties are affected, says Stefan Koskinen.
You know what’s going to happen, eh? The longer Tesla refuses to bend the knee, the more upset these businesses that are forced to sympathy strike and lose business are going to become.

As the smaller businesses have to layoff employees or worse shut their doors completely, the more tensions will rise until the whole pack of union dogs starts attacking each other. Soon Tesla is completely forgotten about and the entire Swedish Labour market and union structure is turned upset down and gets revamped into something that is actually fair for businesses and workers.

Or IF Metall gets pressured enough by the other unions and told to back away and then everyone goes back to business as usual, where everyone was prospering - businesses and workers.
 
You know what’s going to happen, eh? The longer Tesla refuses to bend the knee, the more upset these businesses that are forced to sympathy strike and lose business are going to become.

As the smaller businesses have to layoff employees or worse shut their doors completely, the more tensions will rise until the whole pack of union dogs starts attacking each other. Soon Tesla is completely forgotten about and the entire Swedish Labour market and union structure is turned upset down and gets revamped into something that is actually fair for businesses and workers.

Or IF Metall gets pressured enough by the other unions and told to back away and then everyone goes back to business as usual, where everyone was prospering - businesses and workers.
But it will be a massive loss of respect for IF Metal. Like Elon says, "sunlight is the best disinfectant" and the Union is getting their dose of sunlight right now and will likely have to reform or die unless they somehow manage to outlast Tesla.
 

The Motor Industry Employers' Association comments on the extended notices​

November 11, 2023

Several trade unions have given notice of industrial action against two unions within Transportföretagen. The announcement is made in sympathy with IF Metall's conflict against Tesla. Hanna Alsén, head of negotiations at the Motor Industry Employers' Association, sees that sympathy notices risk missing the mark.
- We question whether a sympathy notice will have an effect on Tesla as a company. It appears to only affect companies that already have collective agreements and individual car owners. We see that it is an unfortunate situation which, in the event of a protracted conflict, risks threatening Swedish jobs
, says Hanna Alsén, head of negotiations at the Motor Industry Employers' Association.
The motor industry employers' association has approximately 2,000 members and of these approximately 1,200 members are affiliated to the Motor Industry Agreement. That is, the agreement that IF Metall now wants Tesla to join as well. The motor industry employers' association and Sveriges Hamnar do not object to the right to strike or IF Metall's notice against Tesla.
- We share the union's view that the Swedish model serves Sweden well and understand why IF Metall wishes to reach a collective agreement with Tesla. But the union's notice now affects our member companies, which already have collective agreements, and not Tesla. Our member companies have very little opportunity to influence the outcome of the conflict, but are still heavily affected financially. There is a risk that jobs will disappear due to the industrial action, says Hanna Alsén in a closing comment.

CURRENT NOTICE​

1. Combat measures initiated on 3 November 2023 at 00.01 at two of MAF's member companies located in several locations.
2. Combat measures initiated on 10 November 2023 at 00.01 at three of MAF's located in several locations.
3. Combat measures initiated on 17 November 2023 at 00.01 at one of MAF's member companies located in several locations.
4. Transport announced a blockade against the loading and unloading of Tesla cars as of November 7, 2023 at 12.00 at four member companies in Sveriges Hamnar.
5. Transport and the Swedish Port Workers' Association have subsequently announced a blockade against all loading and unloading of Tesla cars in all member companies in Sweden's Ports from and including November 17, 2023 at 12.00.
6. The Painters' Association has announced a blockade against all painting of Tesla cars from November 21 at 12.00 against all car refinishers.
If you are a member of the Motor Industry Employers' Association or Sweden's Ports, you can read more about what applies to your company here .
 

The Motor Industry Employers' Association comments on the extended notices​

November 11, 2023

Several trade unions have given notice of industrial action against two unions within Transportföretagen. The announcement is made in sympathy with IF Metall's conflict against Tesla. Hanna Alsén, head of negotiations at the Motor Industry Employers' Association, sees that sympathy notices risk missing the mark.
- We question whether a sympathy notice will have an effect on Tesla as a company. It appears to only affect companies that already have collective agreements and individual car owners. We see that it is an unfortunate situation which, in the event of a protracted conflict, risks threatening Swedish jobs
, says Hanna Alsén, head of negotiations at the Motor Industry Employers' Association.
The motor industry employers' association has approximately 2,000 members and of these approximately 1,200 members are affiliated to the Motor Industry Agreement. That is, the agreement that IF Metall now wants Tesla to join as well. The motor industry employers' association and Sveriges Hamnar do not object to the right to strike or IF Metall's notice against Tesla.
- We share the union's view that the Swedish model serves Sweden well and understand why IF Metall wishes to reach a collective agreement with Tesla. But the union's notice now affects our member companies, which already have collective agreements, and not Tesla. Our member companies have very little opportunity to influence the outcome of the conflict, but are still heavily affected financially. There is a risk that jobs will disappear due to the industrial action, says Hanna Alsén in a closing comment.

CURRENT NOTICE​

1. Combat measures initiated on 3 November 2023 at 00.01 at two of MAF's member companies located in several locations.
2. Combat measures initiated on 10 November 2023 at 00.01 at three of MAF's located in several locations.
3. Combat measures initiated on 17 November 2023 at 00.01 at one of MAF's member companies located in several locations.
4. Transport announced a blockade against the loading and unloading of Tesla cars as of November 7, 2023 at 12.00 at four member companies in Sveriges Hamnar.
5. Transport and the Swedish Port Workers' Association have subsequently announced a blockade against all loading and unloading of Tesla cars in all member companies in Sweden's Ports from and including November 17, 2023 at 12.00.
6. The Painters' Association has announced a blockade against all painting of Tesla cars from November 21 at 12.00 against all car refinishers.
If you are a member of the Motor Industry Employers' Association or Sweden's Ports, you can read more about what applies to your company here .
I laugh because ‘we have a union for everything’ including the Union for Workers Hanging Laundry and the Union for Workers Restocking Grocery Store Shelves.

I laugh because nobody in the history of this Swedish system ever realized the current outcome could happen!? That FORCED sympathy striking could negatively impact workers and businesses that don’t have a dog in the fight.

I laugh because Tesla is already following all their labour laws and by their own rules Tesla doesn’t have to have a collective agreement.

You want to believe it, Hanna, that there’s a risk jobs are lost because of what IF Metall has started and they won’t be Tesla jobs.

All of this seems super strange and contradictory to me given how Sweden handled the pandemic.
 
In legal terms, those Unions are not working in sympathy, but more accurately colluding to bully Tesla into complying.

Tesla only goes where it, and it's products are wanted. They could easily pull out of Sweden with little overall pain. Sweden could bein buying their EVs from China and see how that works out.

Sounds like those unions are getting a little full of themselves.
 

Andy Rietschel
Deputy Managing Director (Ex-Tesla)
6d Edited
Now I stop keeping my mouth shut in this witch hunt.

I don't think I'm alone when I say that we all wish for a world without war and conflict. A world based on understanding, freedom and humanity, where everyone should have the opportunity to choose what they think is best. This is how democracies work and this is how our Western society is structured.

IF Metall's demand for a collective agreement is a conflict that was started by IF Metall. Not to draw parallels with other more warlike conflicts, but there is always a party that is the aggressive party in a conflict. Whoever starts the fight, and in this case it is precisely IF Metall.

Since the start in Sweden in 2013, Tesla has only worked according to the same mission (Mission statement) that they have always done. "Accelerating the world's transition towards sustainable energy". This is what has made people choose to work for Tesla, to drive the development of electric cars forward and to work for a better and emission-free world for our children and future generations. There are probably those people (I know) who also started working for Tesla because they think it's a cool company with cool cars, but these people have rarely been long-term.

Having been the first employee at Tesla in Sweden back in September 2013 and working for almost 8 years in the company until 2021, I know that Tesla is a company that cares a lot about its employees. At Tesla, you are part of a family, part of a mission, part of always standing up for each other. There is no one at Tesla who says that what they do is easy, on the contrary, it is very difficult. But given that you perform according to the high demands given, you also get opportunities that cannot be given anywhere else. If Tesla did not take care of its employees and give them fair compensation in such a tough environment, they could not possibly push their mission forward and work for the change that has taken place in the industry, in Sweden and in the world.

The car industry is crying out for car mechanics and Tesla is guaranteed to be too. Each personal individual has their own responsibility and opportunity to choose where and how they want to work, and of course it must be done according to all applicable regulations in each local market. Everything outside these regulations is free for each company and individual to decide for themselves. This is actually how a democracy works.

IF Metall's conflict-seeking collective agreement demands create nothing but stir up emotions based on incorrect information that is cabled out to the media and customers. In the end, it is the Swedish customers who want to be part of Tesla's mission, who will be the ones affected. Not Tesla as a company.

In another conflict where the aggressive party had acted, external actors had stepped in and said with an authoritative voice: BACK OFF AND LIE DOWN!!

- It should be added that I have nothing against the union in principle, but there must be rhyme and reason in how conflicts and negotiations are handled. The conflict lies in Tesla's customers and other employees being affected and IF Metall damaging Tesla's Swedish brand, which benefits no one. Now neither you nor I know how many employees at Tesla require a collective agreement, but as I try to explain in the post above, Tesla is not for everyone and then you can easily apply to another employer, writes Andy in a further comment.
 
Some anecdotes from Teslaclubsweden:

I went and looked a Tesla mechanic in the eyes today in Uppsala. We had a frank conversation about the strike, and he told us that the workshop was in full swing. Understood that among the 20-odd employees there were only a few who went on strike, despite attempts by the union to entice with free membership fees and first 80, then 100 and now 130% of the salary in strike compensation. An IF Metall member had left the union and continued to work and was now called disloyal, by the union that is. But perhaps the union should have anchored the strike among the employees first?

As for salary and benefits, they were the best he had. And stressful and hard? Has anyone worked at McDonalds or in hotels and restaurants under the collective agreement conditions, he wondered? This was much better both in terms of tasks and remuneration, he said.

Heard bursts of laughter from inside the workshop, so obviously the atmosphere is still good. And the thing that Tibor brought up, that you stick up for each other and are loyal to the company? Filling up at other locations when needed was something Tesla used to do, and the fact that people come from outside and work sometimes has nothing specifically to do with the strike.

One floor up, the Tesla salespeople told us that it was business as usual, and they hadn't noticed any drop in demand. And yes! Within three weeks, Uppsala should receive the Model 3 Highland as both a display and test drive car!

I ended the visit by getting new wiper blades and being shown how easily they clip on. Tomorrow I'll probably stop by and treat them to coffee as a thank you!

---

Stop by Tesla this weekend, according to a salesperson on site, the strikers' behavior is remarkable.
According to the seller, they would follow Tesla's staff to see where the cars arrive and say expletives, which the seller has marked against.
Then the seller's father would have been refused entry to the recycling center with his Tesla.
If the above is true, it is very strange if the pickets and staff at the recycling center behave in this way.
 
The 130% is okay. Salary is not the only thing you earn, pensions, paid vacation etc are added to it.

But the protest is starting to become satire. More unions are joining that really have no business joining:

Musicians join the Tesla strike

Published today at 13.01
  • The Musicians' Union will now be one of a number of trade union actors taking sympathetic measures in the conflict surrounding the car company Tesla.
  • The union demands that SVT ensures that music streaming services stop the possibility of listening to the music from the series Historien om Sverige in the media player of the Tesla cars.
  • "Those who want to listen to the music via Tesla cars can do so when the strike is over," says the Musicians' Union contract secretary Mattias Qvarsell to Kulturnytt.
Jens Möller

The foundation of our journalism is credibility and impartiality. Sveriges Radio is independent in relation to political, religious, economic, public and private special interests.


The show Historien om Sverige has previously been getting some attention and criticism for displaying the first Swedes as Africans, it's a high budget government media production. Now the musicians who made the song for it are demanding that their music should not be played in Tesla cars. But the music is available on youtube and spotify which I guess the Union was not aware could be access by Teslas... So Swedish pro Tesla bloggers are posting videos of the song being played in Tesla and are demanding that the government media follow the Union and remove their media from these platform as the artists demand:

Hi @musikerna and @svt. Here the music from the History of Sweden plays in my Tesla. You should probably remove it from Youtube so I can't listen to it in the car. Thanks in advance.