Sept. 28 (UPI) — According to a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Black workers at Tesla, the electric car maker founded by Elon Musk, were subjected to racial harassment. The lawsuit claims that since at least 2015, Black employees at Tesla’s manufacturing plant in Fremont, Calif., have endured “widespread and ongoing” racial discrimination.
The commission initially invited Tesla to engage in informal conciliation to address the alleged illegal employment practices and provide relief. However, the company did not reach an agreement, leading to the filing of the lawsuit.
The non-black perpetrators at Tesla frequently used racial slurs, including variations of the N-word, to address their Black colleagues and subordinates. This offensive behavior occurred on a regular basis across all shifts, departments, and positions, as stated in the lawsuit obtained by UPI.
The lawsuit further reveals that racist graffiti, including swastikas, threats, and nooses, were found throughout the workplace. Despite reports of these incidents, Tesla allegedly failed to take appropriate action and investigate the complaints.
In addition to verbal harassment, Black employees were also subjected to racial stereotypes and derogatory comments based on their skin color. The lawsuit states that Tesla’s management, predominantly composed of white men, witnessed the conduct but did not intervene.
The U.S. government’s lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as back pay for the affected workers. It also aims to implement injunctive relief to reform Tesla’s employment practices and prevent future discrimination.
Roberta L. Steele, the regional attorney for the EEOC district office in San Francisco, described the allegations as “disturbing” and emphasized the importance of eradicating racial harassment in the workplace.
