SWEDISH dockers have begun blockading shipments of Tesla cars to their country’s ports in support of a strike by members of the IF Metall union.

IF Metall members working as mechanics at Tesla service facilities are on strike over company owner Elon Musk’s refusal to agree to union recognition and collective bargaining in line with Swedish employment law.

The dockers, who refuse to handle Tesla vehicles at the ports of Malmo, Gothenburg, Trelleborg and Sodertalje, have warned that the action will be extended to all Swedish ports from November 17.

“We will back IF Metall when they ask for support,” said Swedish Transport Union chairman Tommy Wreeth. 

The union said the ban on unloading Tesla vehicles would continue until further notice or until a collective agreement is signed, but it added that other cargo operations would not be affected.

Meanwhile, talks requested by Tesla with IF Metall and the government mediator broke down and the union said that no new meetings were planned.

Tesla has now informed IF Metall that it intends to employ strike-breakers to keep its vehicles on the road.

Taxi Stockholm, the largest taxi company in the Swedish capital, said it would not buy any new Teslas until the dispute was over.