STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Tesla (NASDAQ: ) has asked a court in Sweden to ensure that the country’s transport agency allows access to license plates currently blocked by postal workers in a wider labor dispute, a court official said on Tuesday.
The American electric vehicle maker, led by billionaire Elon Musk, is at the center of a dispute in Sweden over its refusal to sign a collective agreement allowing the union to negotiate on behalf of workers.
The conflict began when a group of Tesla mechanics went on strike in October 2023, and more than a dozen unions have since announced solidarity actions, including dock workers, electricians, maintenance staff, postal workers and cleaners.
After losing several appeals in other courts, Tesla has now turned to the administrative court in Karlstad to force the Transport Agency to provide license plates to buyers of its vehicles by means other than postal delivery, a court official said.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
While the postal blockade makes access to license plates difficult, Swedish media have reported that Tesla has found a way around the unions by asking car buyers to order the plates themselves.
The Transport Agency said that they will wait for the outcome of the case.
Sweden’s ST labor union said Tesla should adapt to Swedish labor market practices.
“We do not believe that it is too much to ask large international companies to make certain adjustments to the systems of different countries,” the statement said.
Tesla has said it offers conditions as good as or better than those demanded by the union, and the company has found ways to stay on the job, including hiring non-union staff.
