Robinson successfully defended his school from closure, fought for the unification of the teaching unions, mentored future trade union leaders and transformed teaching at the Marx Memorial Library, writes JOHN FOSTER
Elon Musk v the Swedish working class one year on
From the ports to the postal service, Swedish unions are outmanoeuvring Tesla in solidarity with striking mechanics — speaking to Tony Burke, IF Metall’s MARIE NEILSON explains that collective bargaining remains non-negotiable in Sweden
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, speaks during the Global Citizen Awards dinner, September 23, 2024, in New York
A judge in a German court ruled that the ban activity imposed on renowned Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah was unlawful, reports LEON WYSTRYCHOWSKI
At the very moment Britain faces poverty, housing and climate crises requiring radical solutions, the liberal press promotes ideologically narrow books while marginalising authors who offer the most accurate understanding of change, writes IAN SINCLAIR
From Gaza protest bans to proscribing Palestine Action, political elites are showing a crisis of confidence as they abandon Roy Jenkins’s apologetic approach for Suella Braverman’s aggressive ‘hate march’ rhetoric, writes PAUL DONOVAN
ANSELM ELDERGILL examines the legal case behind this weekend’s Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival and the lessons for today
Ben Chacko talks to RMT leader EDDIE DEMPSEY about how the key to fixing broken Britain lies in collective sectoral bargaining, restoring unions’ ability to take solidarity strike action and bringing about the much-vaunted ‘wave of insourcing’
The summer of 1950 saw Labour abandon further nationalisation while escalating Korean War spending from £2.3m to £4.7m, as the government meekly accepted capitalism’s licence and became Washington’s yes-man, writes JOHN ELLISON
ON October 27 last year, mechanics working for Tesla in Sweden walked out on strike after the company refused to agree to a collective bargaining agreement. Sectoral collective bargaining is standard practice in Sweden, but Elon Musk and the company refuse to sit down and reach an agreement.
Marie Neilson is the president of the workers’ union IF Metall and president of the powerful global manufacturing and energy union IndustriALL. Tony Burke interviewed her exclusively for the Morning Star.
Why is it important for IF Metall to have a collective agreement with Tesla?
Our members at Tesla deserve long-term, fair and safe working conditions, just like everyone else in the Swedish labour market. We have been trying to negotiate a collective agreement with Tesla for many years, but they have continued to refuse to negotiate an agreement.
Tesla is a major player in the auto industry, and they should, of course, compete on the same terms as all other companies in Sweden and respect the basic principles of the Swedish labour market. At its core, this is about wages, pensions, and conditions for our members working at Tesla.
Local management will be well aware of the way things work in Sweden. How much influence do you think they have with Musk?
More from this author
This is a remarkable set of hop hip, salsa, reggae, soul, cumbia and traditional Mexican music finds TONY BURKE
New releases from Madalitso Band, Gabriel da Rosa, and Femi Kuti
A New Awakening: Adventures In British Jazz 1966 - 1971, G3, and Buck Owens
TONY BURKE says an International Labour Conference next month will try for a new convention to protect often super-exploited workers providing services such as ride-hailing (taxis) such as Uber as well as fast food and package delivery
