Tesla
Other complaints included allegations that racist drawings and language were repeatedly used against Black and African American Tesla employees, as well as claims that Black employees are penalized more severely than their white counterparts. Black employees also allege that they have been denied career advancement opportunities and pay rates given to similar non-Black employees.
"These numerous complaints by Black and/or African American workers about racial harassment, racial discrimination, and retaliation lodged over a span of almost a decade have been futile," the lawsuit states. "Tesla has continued to deflect and evade responsibility. While it claims to not tolerate racial harassment or discrimination at its factories, Tesla's investigations of complaints are not compliant with [the] law."
According to the suit, racist hate symbols like swastikas, KKKs, and the N-word were graffitied on common areas and machines. The suit alleges that the company was slow to remove these offensive signs. Among the racist phrases witnessed by Black workers were "fuck N[ ]", "all monkeys work outside", as well as "hang N[ ]" alongside an image of a noose in an employee bathroom. The suit claims that these phrases remained visible for months.
Black employees also reported frequent use of slurs, as well as the widespread use of offensive nicknames for the Tesla factory, like the "slaveship" or "the plantation". Tesla workers tattooed with the Confederate flag would allegedly flaunt the symbol near Black workers in an effort to intimidate them.
Black workers were also, allegedly, routinely given more physically demanding work than other employees. This included being forced to clean the factory floor on their hands and knees, something other workers were not required to do.
Discrimination against Black workers reportedly began less than a year after Tesla began production in Fremont and has continued "constantly" since then. According to the suit, workers who complained about the issue were retaliated against by the company.
This suit is only one of many filed against the company regarding allegations of discrimination at its Fremont location, as well as other facilities. Other allegations have involved both racial and sexual harassment and discrimination. Last year, a judge denied Tesla's requests to dismiss a class-action discrimination suit against the company.
In October, one former employee, Owen Diaz, was awarded $137 million for his claims of constant racial harassment. A judge is currently considering Tesla's bid to reduce the award.
In January, the DFEH attempted to resolve the discrimination allegations without resorting to litigation. The agency offered to facilitate an internal dispute resolution on its own dime, but Tesla refused to attend the hearing. Soon after, the discrimination suit was filed.
On the same day, Tesla released a statement condemning the DFEH's actions, calling the suit "a narrative spun by the DFEH and a handful of plaintiff firms to generate publicity", adding that these claims are "not factual proof". It argues that 50 of the complaints mentioned in the DFEH suit lack merit.
"Tesla strongly opposes all forms of discrimination and harassment and has a dedicated Employee Relations team that responds to and investigates all complaints," Tesla wrote. "Tesla has always disciplined and terminated employees who engage in misconduct, including those who use racial slurs or harass others in different ways."
The company said that it will be petitioning the court to pause proceedings.
