Published August 25, 2026, 4:00 a.m.

Tesla’s buyout of strikers may constitute a violation of the right to organize. That is the view of Mikael Hansson, a professor of civil law.

However, it is difficult for IF Metall to pursue the matter if the affected members themselves do not wish to do so.

The week before last, it became clear that the Tesla strike had ended after Tesla bought out all remaining strikers. A striking mechanic whom Dagens Arbete has been in contact with received the offer from Tesla while he or she was still actively participating in the strike. The same applies to strikers at at least one other branch.

“They called from Tesla and asked if I was interested. But at the time, I had no idea what they were talking about. I thought the strike was in full swing,” says the person, who initially chose to decline the offer.

“I wanted to stay on strike, after all. Then I called my union representative and found out that everyone had been bought out. That shocked me. I thought everything was business as usual.”

In the end, the striker signed an agreement anyway.

“If the majority is gone, am I supposed to stand there alone? You can’t have a strike if I’m the only one left.”

The Tesla strike ends

✓Just over two and a half years of conflict come to an end

May be reviewed—if there are members who want it

If an employer makes it difficult for employees to exercise their union rights, it may constitute a violation of the right of association under the Co-determination Act (MBL).

The text of the law describes two situations. If an employer prevents a person from exercising their right to unionize—for example, by going on strike—it may constitute a violation of the right to organize.

The same applies if an employer punishes an employee for exercising their right to organize.

The fact that Tesla made an offer to those who were actively on strike could potentially constitute a violation of the right of association, according to Mikael Hansson, a lecturer in civil law at Uppsala University. However, there are certain difficulties in pursuing such a case.

If those who were bought out are themselves satisfied with their settlements, it may be difficult for the union to pursue legal action, he says.

“As the violation of the right of association is defined, as far as I can understand, the individual holders of that right must be involved in some way. It is not legally impossible for the union to pursue the matter on its own, but it is significantly more difficult.”

Members probably do not need to testify in a legal proceeding themselves, but there must be a member who can actually be said to have had their right to organize violated for the union to have a case to pursue, according to Mikael Hansson.

– You can’t just say that IF Metall has been wronged because members have left. It’s always a member’s right that must have been violated.

The former striker whom DA spoke with is, after all, satisfied with the settlement. At the same time, there’s a bitter aftertaste.

“It’s a real shame. This has taken three years of our time.”

Janna Ayres and Ida Persson