Black workers at California Tesla factory allege rampant racism, seek class-action status
Tesla may face a class-action lawsuit as 240 Black factory workers in California have described widespread racism and discrimination at the company’s San Francisco Bay Area plant, including the use of racial slurs and derogatory references to the factory as a plantation or slave ship. The testimonies, filed in court, come from contractors and employees who worked at the Fremont plant between 2016 and the present. The lawsuit is part of a larger legal battle that began in 2017 when Marcus Vaughn complained of a hostile work environment and subsequently got fired. Bryan Schwartz, one of Vaughn’s lawyers, expressed shock at the pervasive harassment and criticized Tesla for allowing it to continue. Tesla has faced multiple lawsuits related to racism, harassment, and discrimination at the Fremont plant.
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