Swedish Court Sides with Unions, Rejects Tesla’s Bid to Resume PostNord Deliveries

A district court in Sweden ruled on Friday that it could not compel PostNord, the country’s main postal service, to resume deliveries to Tesla, which halted almost a year ago due to a larger labour dispute. This legal battle arose when Tesla sought to push back against a strike initiated by mechanics at its service centres, a movement that received backing from various unions, including the postal carriers’ guild.

Although Tesla does not manufacture cars in Sweden—where electric vehicles represent a significant market share—it operates several dealerships and service centres. Despite the labour unrest, Tesla managed to boost its sales by 1% in the first nine months of the year, selling 16,478 vehicles, according to Mobility Sweden.

In Sweden, unions wield considerable influence, with about 70% of the workforce being union members. Many viewed Tesla’s refusal to negotiate with IF Metall, the mechanics’ union, as a disregard for the collaborative labour relations model in the country.

The court stated that Swedish law prohibits government intervention in labour disputes, emphasising the right of parties to take action. Postal workers, represented by the Seko union, had halted all services to Tesla, impacting deliveries of essential items like new license plates. Tesla is exploring alternative solutions while facing ongoing challenges in Sweden, and the head of Seko urged the company to engage in discussions with the mechanics.