Tesla hit by new lawsuit alleging racial abuse against black workers

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SAN FRANCISCO — Fifteen current or former black Tesla employees filed a lawsuit Thursday against the electric car maker, alleging they suffered racial abuse and harassment at its factories.

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Workers said they were regularly subjected to offensive racist comments and behavior from co-workers, managers and human resources employees, according to the lawsuit in California state court.

The harassment, which occurred primarily at the Tesla factory in Fremont, California, included the use of the terms « n***** », « slavery » or « plantation » or sexual comments such as « likes spoils, » the lawsuit said, adding that the automaker’s « standard operating procedures include blatant, overt, and unmitigated racial discrimination. »

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Some of the plaintiffs were assigned to Tesla’s most physically demanding jobs or were passed over for promotion, according to the lawsuit.

He said Montieco Justice, a production associate at Tesla’s Fremont factory, was immediately demoted upon returning to Tesla after taking leave of absence following the contraction of COVID-19.

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Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

The automaker faces at least 10 lawsuits alleging racial discrimination or widespread sexual harassment, including one filed by a California civil rights agency.

He has previously denied wrongdoing and says he has policies in place to prevent and address misconduct.

On Monday, a federal judge in California ordered a new lawsuit over damages Tesla owes a black former factory worker who accused the company of racial discrimination, after refusing a $15 million reward.

This month, a Tesla shareholder filed a lawsuit accusing CEO Elon Musk and the company’s board of neglecting worker complaints and fostering a toxic work culture.