In Sweden, according to union information, around 600 employees from across the country went on strike at the North American electric car manufacturer Tesla. In numerous workshops, workers refused to repair Tesla models on Friday, IF Metall union spokesman Jesper Pettersson said. The union calls for a collective agreement at Tesla. Meanwhile, the company is increasing wages for its employees at the Grünheide factory near Berlin.
In Sweden, around 130 employees at ten Tesla workshops in Sweden stopped working last Friday. Now employees join the workshops where cars from different manufacturers are repaired. According to Pettersson, the employees just didn’t touch the Teslas.
The problem of employee turnover
Employee turnover at American car manufacturer Tesla is considered unusually high: in 2018, the company replaced 70% of its employees, “Handelsblatt” reported on Friday, citing a data leak. In 2021, it was 40 percent.
The union spokesperson said IF Metall had met with Tesla representatives in recent days. Another meeting is scheduled for Monday. He declined to comment on the progress of negotiations.
In Sweden, almost 90 percent of all employees work under a collective agreement. Tesla boss Elon Musk has repeatedly rejected calls for workers to unionize. Around 127,000 people work for the electric car maker around the world.
When Musk stops by in person
In Grünheide, Germany, near Berlin, wages for factory workers will be increased, Tesla announced on Friday. After last year’s salaries were increased by up to 6 percent, this year they will be increased by another 4 percent for all employees, it was said. “This increase will already be implemented with the next payment in November.” Furthermore, the annual salaries of production employees will be increased by 2,500 euros from February 2024.
Tesla boss Elon Musk The company announced that it personally thanked the factory workers in Grünheide on Friday for their efforts in starting up the factory. Management informed employees about the salary increases at an internal team meeting.
They are the result of a standard Tesla internal process in which employee salaries are regularly checked to ensure fair pay. “Claims that there is a connection between Tesla’s salary adjustments and union activity are devoid of any truth,” Tesla said. IG Metall recently claimed a possible pay rise as a success of its week of action.