The Union is now expanding its sympathy actions in the Tesla conflict. The Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees is threatening to block all work that the company Kiwa does in Tesla's premises.
It was on 14 May that the Union first intervened in the Tesla conflict. At that time, it concerned the company Dekra, which inspects equipment for Tesla.
And now, the sympathy actions concern the company Kiwa, which is Dekra's competitor.
We have now received information that Tesla is likely to try to perform certain inspection tasks with the competitor Kiwa, says the Union's chief negotiator Martin Wästfelt.
Therefore, we have decided to take corresponding action against them, as we previously did against Dekra.
"Unfortunate"
The blockade means that employees at Kiwa will not be allowed to work for Tesla in premises where the electric car giant operates. This will come into effect on 4 July at 15:00, unless Tesla chooses to sign a collective agreement beforehand.
We want to make it difficult for Tesla and thus support IF Metall's demands for a collective agreement.
TT: Has your first sympathy action had any effect?
Yes, in the sense that Dekra respects the blockade. Then we don't know exactly how many things are standing still as a result of this.
The industry and employer organisation Innovationsföretagen, where both Kiwa and Dekra are members, believes that the announcement is unfortunate.
These companies have collective agreements and follow them. And yet, they are being punished. So it's very unfortunate that they are being drawn into this blockade, says Elin Lydahl, director of Innovationsföretagen.
According to Elin Lydahl, this blockade is more extensive than the one against Dekra.
More locations are affected by this blockade than the previous one. But exactly what it means, we haven't had time to look at.
No new negotiations
The trade union IF Metall welcomes the sympathy action from the Union.
It's needed to try to pressure Tesla into reaching a solution with us in this conflict. We think it's good and that it serves its purpose, says Simon Petersson, deputy agreement secretary at IF Metall.
IF Metall's conflict with the electric car manufacturer concerns Tesla's refusal to sign a collective agreement. The strike has been ongoing since 27 October last year, and according to the union, there are no negotiations with TM Sweden (Tesla) planned at present.
Our plan is that we still extend a hand to Tesla and want to negotiate. Otherwise, we continuously look at expanding the possibilities for conflict actions.
What actions this concerns, Simon Petersson does not want to comment on.
On 27 October, IF Metall launched its strike against Tesla's service workshops. The goal is to force the company to sign a collective agreement.
The American electric car giant refuses. The employees have equally good or better conditions than the collective agreement, is the response from Tesla.
Trade unions that have introduced sympathy actions:
Byggnads
Eletrikerförbundet
The trade union ST
Fastighetsanställdas förbund
Hamnarbetarförbundet
Kommunal
Målarna
Service- and communications union (Seko)
Transportarbetareförbundet
Unionen
Danish 3F Transport
Norwegian Fellesforbundet
Finnish transport union AKT
Source: IF Metall
