Skip to main content
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.  

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
The Green Arrows, Salisbury 1977 / Pic © Analog Africa
Global Routes / 23 April 2025
23 April 2025

How underground bands formed a vital part of the struggle against white supremacy

Album Reviews / 3 March 2025
3 March 2025
New releases by Samba Touré, Santrofi, and Piers Faccini & Ballake Sissoko 
SCARING TRUMP: (Left to right) Brazil’s President Luiz Ina
Features / 24 February 2025
24 February 2025
The towering figures of the North American right and the South American left are set to clash this summer as Brazil hosts Brics, an alliance Trump is determined to smash, reports TONY BURKE
(Right to left) Service Employees International Union intern
Features / 11 January 2025
11 January 2025
The looming Trump presidency has forced unions to rebuild their unity and strength, writes TONY BURKE, as the SEIU returns to the AFL-CIO, healing the 2005 rift over organising priorities and getting ready to fight the right together
Similar stories
General Secretary of the Unite union, Sharon Graham speaks d
Editorial: / 9 October 2024
9 October 2024
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, speaks during the Global Citizen Aw
Features / 5 October 2024
5 October 2024
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