Document adopted
Adopted on
ETUC Solidarity Statement with TESLA workers
Statement adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 06-07 December 2023
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) representing over 45 million workers and 93 trade union confederations and 10 European trade union federations in Europe offers all its support to the Swedish union IF Metall, in their demand for fairer working conditions via a collective agreement for Tesla workers in Sweden.
IF Metall has been negotiating with Tesla for a long time. Tesla have declined to sign a collective agreement, thereby violating fundamental principles of the Swedish labour market. IF Metall was forced to start a strike.
Collective agreements are the basis of the Swedish and Nordic labour market model. This means that the trade unions and the employers' organisations determine the rules of the game in the labour market. Unfair competition brings nothing but damage and precarious working conditions. The Nordic model is based on mutual respect and the same rules apply to all. Therefore, this conflict is about a basis for the whole labour market.
In support of IF Metall and in order to defend the right to collective agreements, several Swedish and Nordic unions have announced sympathy actions.
Tesla is a global actor, but so is trade union solidarity. This is not only a fight for the Tesla workers in Sweden, but a crucial fight for the right to strike and the right to collective agreements. The European trade union movement is united behind these principles and behind the workers at Tesla.
This is a moment to stand up for collective bargaining. We call on Tesla to respect the fundamental rights at work and to respect the Swedish labour market model. It’s time to sign a collective agreement.