The conflict between Tesla and IF Metall is escalating.
And mediator Kurt Eriksson is resigned.
- They are not allowed to reach an agreement. These are orders from Elon Musk, he says to Dagens Industri.
On Monday, mediator Kurt Eriksson contacted Tesla's legal counsel about the possibility of resuming collective bargaining discussions with IF Metall.
The parties have not met since 6 November when negotiations collapsed. But he still doesn't see any improvement.
- "They are not allowed to reach an agreement. These are orders from Elon Musk. The Swedish company has no freedom of action at all," he tells Dagens Industri.
Eriksson also sees no reason to book a new meeting.
- "There is nothing to talk about because the message from Tesla is that they are not allowed to sign collective agreements and IF Metall says that we should have collective agreements," he says.
The mediator says that he has never experienced such a tough situation before.
- "No, I haven't. It's very special because it's an international company where the decision maker is in another country.
"Will be costly"
A large number of trade unions have joined IF Metall's fight and taken sympathy measures.
The Electricians' Union refuses to repair or service Tesla's 213 charging stations around the country, the Painters' Union has announced that it will not paint any Tesla cars, and Transport has announced a harbour blockade in all Swedish ports.
- It will be difficult for Tesla, costly. And all of the sympathy measures have not gone through yet, says IF Metall agreement secretary Veli-Pekka Sikkl to Aftonbladet.
(Translated with DeepL)
https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/VPnpoW/musks-order-inga-avtal-i-sverige