John, 

This week's Labor Dispatch was written by our Training Specialist, Esau Gutierrez, on how Tesla mechanics are on strike, and it compares their situation to that of a historical activist who spoke on the side of the road. It criticizes Tesla for not treating workers well and praises Swedish workers for supporting each other. He also mentions a law in the U.S. that makes it harder for workers to go on strike together.

Solidarity at the Side of the Road. 

I have recently been made aware of quite the parallel. As you may have heard, on October 26th, 2023, Tesla mechanics made the always difficult decision to go on strike against their employer. They have now been attempting to reach a bargaining agreement for, not weeks or months, but years, to no fruition. The unique parallel I wish to point out here is that of August Palm, a renowned and celebrated Swedish activist and revolutionary agitator.

In 1882, he was the founder of the early Swedish newspaper "Folkvijan," or "Will of the People," where he highlighted and represented agitation pieces in favor of organized labor. For this, he was imprisoned for three months and banned from utilizing lecture halls for his speaking events.

Interesting character, right? But what does this all have to do with Tesla and today's striking mechanics? Because August Palm was exiled from utilizing lecture halls for his events, he bullheadedly walked to the side of the road and began speaking his messages. At the side of the road, he stood and gathered audiences fascinated by not only the unique venues but also the messages of solidarity, strength in numbers, and the power of labor.

And now, we are back on the road. Tesla has become a major player in the global automotive industry, selling over 1 million vehicles in 2022, up 47% worldwide, and ranking #15 on the list of global automakers, with a net income of at least 8 billion per quarter USD since the start of 2022. Tesla has found itself in stark opposition to organized labor and any efforts at uplifting workers. More than capable of paying its workers livable wages and a strong competitive collective bargaining agreement, Tesla chooses the rockiest of all roads: unfettered, blatant corporate greed.

Thankfully, the rocky road Tesla has chosen to travel down is composed of none other than the thousands of Swedes in their respective labor fields and labor organizations. There is a stark difference in the labor freedom afforded to Swedish citizens and not United States citizens; they have engaged in an all-out swell of sympathy strikes. Tesla wants their mail delivered? No mail person will deliver it. Tesla wants their charging stations fixed? No mechanic will repair them. Tesla wants their cars or equipment loaded or unloaded from the dock? No dock worker will move the crates. Tesla wants their buildings cleaned and maintained? No sanitation worker will do so.

Why do we not have the freedom in the United States to engage in sympathy strikes? Well, we have the infamous Taft-Hartley Act to thank. The Taft-Hartley Act “... prohibited secondary boycotts, making it unlawful for a union that has a primary dispute with one employer to pressure a neutral employer to stop doing business with the first employer.”

So here we are. Tesla has its first major, concerted, and popular labor speedbump, and if the Swedish workers and labor organizers have anything to say about it, the tires on the vehicle of corporate greed and corruption will come right off. Maybe when Tesla pulls over to the side of the road, they’ll catch a good lecture on labor strength and solidarity.

¹Cooper, Ryan. “Tesla Faces off against Nordic Labor Solidarity.” The American Prospect, 21 Nov. 2023, prospect.org/labor/2023-11-21-tesla-sweden-union-sympathy-strikes/. 

²Stockholmkonst. “Stockholmkonst – Mäster Palm.” Stockholm Konst, stockholmkonst, 4 May 2021, www.stockholmkonst.se/konsten/konst-pa-allman-plats/master-palm/.

³“Top 15 Automakers in the World: Car Sales Rank Worldwide.” F&I Tools, www.factorywarrantylist.com/car-sales-by-manufacturer.html. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023. 

⁴Alpert, Lynn. “Tesla Found Guilty of Union Busting.” The Labor Tribune, 21 Apr. 2021, labortribune.com/tesla-found-guilty-of-union-busting/. 

⁵ “1947 Taft-Hartley Substantive Provisions.” National Labor Relations Board, www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/who-we-are/our-history/1947-taft-hartley-substantive-provisions. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita

Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

LCSA Annual Santa's Helper Program 

Labor's Community Service Agency has been planning for their annual Holiday Santa's Helper program to provide gifts to children in their affordable housing program. This year there are over 150 children on the list! 

They have made it simple to contribute: 

1. You can request a gift tag and purchase the present. They will pick up or you can deliver to their office - 3117 N. 16th St., STE 100, Phoenix, AZ 85016 
2. You can donate money and they will shop for you 
3. You can donate via check or PayPal on their website, www.lcsaphx.org- use donate button and specify "Santa's Helper"

Click on the button below to access the form to donate. 

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