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Regional secretary with the National Education Union
Has the world’s richest man met his match with the Nordic Unions?
TONY BURKE takes a look at the battle between Elon Musk's Tesla and Swedish unions determined to defend collective bargaining
Intransigent: Elon Musk is trying to break Sweden's IF Metall through the courts – but is running up against movement-wide solidarity

IN THE past few weeks the Morning Star has given coverage to the battle now raging in Sweden between Elon Musk, the CEO of e-vehicle manufacturer Tesla, and the Swedish trade union IF Metall.

The dispute arose when Musk told his management in Sweden not to engage in further talks with the union and the Swedish mediation service in regard to union recognition and implementing a sector-wide collective bargaining agreement for 130 Tesla mechanics in the country, as provided by Swedish law to implement the “Swedish model” of industrial relations. 

In Sweden (and Denmark) there are industry-wide agreements between employers’ associations and unions. These cover companies which are members of the employers association. They are normally followed by some form of local negotiations.  

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