Elon Musk’s Car Company Tesla Faces Allegations Of Racist Discrimination Against Black Employees

Summary

The video script discusses a lawsuit filed against Tesla on behalf of its black employees, who have been subjected to racial slurs and a hostile work environment. It highlights previous settlements, including a $1 million payout to Melvin Berry and a $137 million award to Owen Diaz, both for racial discrimination. The script also criticizes Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, for not addressing the issue and suggests that the company's culture tolerates such behavior. The discussion includes Larry Organ, a lawyer involved in the cases, who emphasizes the lack of action by Tesla to prevent racism and retaliation, and Jason Johnson, who comments on the broader implications of tech culture and potential state-level anti-racism legislation.

Takeaways

• 📜 A 39-page complaint has been filed on behalf of Tesla's black employees, detailing shocking instances of racial discrimination and use of the n-word at the workplace.
• 🚫 Tesla has faced similar accusations before, having paid out $1 million to a former employee in August after an arbitrator found the company ignored frequent use of racial slurs.
• 🏭 The environment at Tesla's factory has been described as toxic, with racist graffiti and supervisors using the n-word directed at employees on multiple occasions.
• 📢 Despite complaints, Tesla's response was deemed insufficient, with no full investigations conducted and a lack of action to address the hostile work environment.
• 🗣️ Elon Musk's statement about needing a 'thick skin' has been criticized, as it suggests a dismissive attitude towards the serious issue of racism within the company.
• 💼 There is an implied 'tech bro' culture within Tesla that may contribute to the normalization of such behavior and a lack of accountability.
• 🚫 Tesla has refused to attend mediation and has been accused of retaliating against employees who complained about the racist environment.
• 💰 A federal jury awarded $137 million to a black elevator operator after finding his claims of being repeatedly called the n-word credible.
• 📚 A class action lawsuit was filed in 2017 on behalf of 1,000 black workers due to the ongoing toxic environment at Tesla.
• 🏁 Elon Musk's move to Texas shortly after a large verdict against Tesla has been perceived by some as an attempt to escape accountability.
• 🛑 Tesla's response to the class action lawsuit was to fight it rather than address the systemic issues, suggesting a resistance to change and a lack of willingness to engage in meaningful resolution.

Q & A

What is the main issue raised in the complaint filed on behalf of Tesla's black employees?

The complaint alleges that Tesla's production associates and supervisors regularly use the n-word against employees and that some supervisors have retaliated against complaints of racism with their own racist language and tactics.

What previous incidents have occurred involving Tesla and claims of racism and discrimination?

In August, Tesla paid a former employee, Melvin Berry, $1 million after an arbitrator found the company ignored the use of racist slurs. In October, a federal jury awarded Owen Diaz, a black elevator operator, $137 million after finding his claims of being called the n-word credible.

What was the outcome of the class action lawsuit filed in 2017 on behalf of 1,000 black workers against Tesla?

The outcome is not detailed in the transcript, but it indicates that the environment at Tesla was considered toxic for a long time, leading to the lawsuit.

What specific experiences did Larry Organ describe regarding his clients Owen Diaz and Melvin Berry?

Larry Organ described that both clients heard the n-word frequently at the factory, with Diaz being called the n-word over 60 times by two supervisors. There was also racist graffiti in the bathrooms, and despite numerous complaints, Tesla did not conduct full investigations or take appropriate action.

What was Elon Musk's response to the allegations of a hostile work environment at Tesla?

Elon Musk made a statement about having a 'thick skin,' implying that the complaints were not taken seriously, and there was a lack of action to address the issues.

How does the 'tech bro culture' mentioned in the transcript relate to the situation at Tesla?

The 'tech bro culture' refers to an environment where certain behaviors, such as racism and retaliation, are tolerated or even encouraged, with a dismissive attitude towards complaints and a lack of accountability.

What was Tesla's response to the class action lawsuit in 2017?

Tesla stated that they would rather pay 10 times the settlement demand in legal fees and fight to the ends of the earth than give in to extortion and allow the abuse of the legal system.

What is Larry Organ's response to being called an 'extortionist' by Elon Musk?

Larry Organ stated that he would rather be called an extortionist for standing up for African-American workers than anything else, and he is not scared of Elon Musk or the legal fight.

What is the significance of the mention of Elon Musk moving to Texas?

The move to Texas by Elon Musk is seen as potentially an attempt to escape accountability for the lawsuits and allegations of racism and discrimination, possibly seeking a more permissive environment.

How does the discussion of the 'anti-woke' acts in states like Florida relate to the Tesla situation?

The 'anti-woke' acts could potentially prohibit companies like Tesla from addressing racism and discrimination, as they suggest that the problem is with people complaining about racism rather than the racism itself.

What other issues at Tesla are mentioned in the transcript that should be a concern?

In addition to racism, the transcript also mentions sexism issues at Tesla, indicating that there are multiple areas of concern regarding the company's workplace culture.

Outlines

00:00

🚨 Allegations of Racism and Retaliation at Tesla 🚨

The first paragraph discusses a 39-page complaint filed on behalf of Tesla's black employees, detailing allegations of regular racial slurs and a toxic work environment. It mentions previous settlements and legal actions, including a $1 million payout to Melvin Berry for racial abuse and a $137 million award to Owen Diaz, a black elevator operator. The paragraph highlights the lack of action by Tesla despite numerous complaints and the company's refusal to attend mediation. It also criticizes Elon Musk's response to the situation, suggesting that his attitude perpetuates a hostile work environment.

05:00

📘 Legal and Cultural Implications of Tesla's Racism Claims 📘

The second paragraph delves into the legal aspects and cultural implications of the racism claims against Tesla. It discusses the potential impact of Elon Musk's move to Texas in light of the ongoing lawsuit and the irony of the timing. The speaker, Larry Organ, expresses his readiness to continue the fight for African-American workers and criticizes Tesla's response to the class action lawsuit, which accused the company of preferring to spend more on legal fees than settling. The paragraph also touches on the broader issue of states like Florida attempting to pass laws that could inhibit companies from addressing racism, and the need for the jury system as a check on power.

Keywords

💡Racism

Racism is a belief that one race is superior to others, often resulting in discrimination and prejudice towards people based on their race or ethnicity. In the context of the video, racism is a central theme as it discusses the alleged racial discrimination and use of racial slurs against black employees at Tesla. The script mentions the use of the n-word by production associates and supervisors, which is a clear example of racial discrimination.

💡Discrimination

Discrimination refers to the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex. The video's theme revolves around the alleged discrimination faced by black employees at Tesla, where they were subjected to a hostile work environment and racial slurs, as evidenced by the complaints and lawsuits mentioned in the script.

💡Class Action Lawsuit

A class action lawsuit is a legal action in which a group of people with similar claims come together to sue as a group, or 'class,' in one court action. The script refers to a class action lawsuit filed in 2017 on behalf of 1,000 black workers against Tesla, highlighting the collective nature of the discrimination claims and the severity of the issue.

💡Retaliation

Retaliation is an act of revenge or retribution against someone for a perceived wrong or threat. The video discusses how some supervisors at Tesla allegedly used retaliatory tactics against employees who complained about the racist environment, which is a form of discrimination and abuse of power.

💡Tesla

Tesla is an American electric vehicle and clean energy company that has been the subject of multiple lawsuits and complaints regarding racial discrimination. The script highlights several cases involving Tesla, including the high-profile lawsuit of Owen Diaz and the comments made by CEO Elon Musk, which are central to the video's discussion on racism and corporate responsibility.

💡Elon Musk

Elon Musk is the CEO of Tesla and is mentioned in the script for his comments and actions related to the racial discrimination issues at the company. His statement about employees needing a 'thick skin' is criticized in the video, suggesting a lack of empathy and understanding towards the serious issue of racism in the workplace.

💡Arbitration

Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution where parties agree to have their dispute resolved by one or more persons, known as arbitrators, instead of going to court. The script mentions a case where Tesla paid a former employee $1 million after an arbitrator found in his favor, indicating that Tesla's internal handling of racial discrimination was inadequate.

💡Hostile Work Environment

A hostile work environment is one that is filled with an atmosphere of intimidation, ridicule, insult, or offensive conduct. The video describes the workplace at Tesla as being toxic and hostile towards black employees, with repeated use of racial slurs and lack of action by the company to address the issue.

💡Civil Rights Act of 1866

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 is a United States federal law that provides all citizens the same right to make and enforce contracts, sue, be parties to lawsuits, give evidence, and inherit, purchase, lease, sell, and convey property as is allowed to white citizens. The script references this act in the context of the lawsuit brought by Owen Diaz, emphasizing the federal legal framework that Tesla is accused of violating.

💡Jury System

The jury system is a method of administering justice by a panel of citizens who are sworn to inquire into and determine facts and deliver a verdict. The video discusses the importance of the jury system as a check on power, particularly in the context of the lawsuits against Tesla and Elon Musk, where juries have the power to hold them accountable for their actions.

Highlights

Tesla's black employees face regular use of the n-word by production associates and supervisors.

Supervisors allegedly retaliated with racist language when confronted with complaints about racism.

Tesla previously paid a former employee $1 million after an arbitrator found the company ignored racist slurs.

A federal jury awarded a black elevator operator $137 million for credible claims of being repeatedly called the n-word.

A class action lawsuit was filed in 2017 on behalf of 1,000 black workers due to a toxic environment.

Lawyer Larry Organ represents clients in all three mentioned cases against Tesla.

Tesla allegedly took no substantial action to investigate or stop the use of the n-word and racist graffiti.

Elon Musk's statement about having a 'thick skin' is criticized as dismissive of the serious issues.

Tesla's culture is described as one of ignoring complaints and retaliating against those who speak up.

Elon Musk is likened to Doctor Doom for his apparent comfort with a hostile work environment.

Tesla's refusal to attend mediation and accusations of taunting and retaliation against black workers.

The move of Tesla to Texas is viewed with skepticism, possibly as an attempt to escape accountability.

Tesla's response to the class action lawsuit was to fight rather than settle, calling it extortion.

Larry Organ embraces being called an extortionist for standing up for African-American workers.

The jury system is highlighted as a check on power and potentially against Elon Musk and Tesla.

Concerns raised about states like Florida trying to become safe havens for racism.

The discussion also touches on sexism issues at Tesla that have not been fully addressed.

Transcripts

if you take the time to read the 39-page

complaint filed on behalf of tesla's

black employees

you would be horrified

tesla production associates and

supervisors are accused of regularly

calling employees to n-word and when

faced with complaints about the racist

environment some supervisors allegedly

used their own racist language and

retaliatory tactics now mind you this is

not the first time elon musk and his

company have had to address these claims

of rampant racism and discrimination in

the workplace last august the company

paid a former employee melvin berry one

million dollars after an arbitrator

found that tesla turned a blind eye to

the commonplace use of racist slurs and

failed to stop the employees supervisors

from calling him the n-word the

arbitrator found barry's allegations

more credible than tesla's denials

arbitration is what companies like to

use to keep things hostage on friendlier

terms and then in october a federal jury

in san francisco awarded owen d as a

black elevator operator

137 million dollars after they found his

claims that a colleague repeatedly

called him the n word to be credible

the environment has reportedly been so

toxic for so long that a class action

lawsuit was filed back in 2017 against

the company on behalf of 1 000 black

workers and joining me now is larry

organ founder of the california civil

rights law group he's a lawyer in all

three cases that i just mentioned and

jason johnson is back with us um i think

for a lot of people um and thank you so

much for being here mr organ it's

shocking to

hear that this seems to be an extremely

open environment of both racism and

retaliation

walk us through what your clients were

going through and tell us what the

specifics of the retaliation looked like

sure so in terms of owen diaz um and

melvin berry they they heard the n-word

from uh the get-go whenever they were

walking around the factory

um but owen had it directed at him over

60 times by two of his supervisors there

was racist graffiti including the n-word

swastikas and other things in the

bathrooms

that that he saw as of the second day of

his employment there he complained

numerous times

verbally and in writing and

tesla

took some perfunctory

analysis but

they didn't do full investigations they

just didn't do the things that employers

are supposed to do if you want to stop

this and most importantly what really

makes me mad is this statement about the

thick skin by elon musk if he had gone

into that factory you know this is a guy

who said oh i sleep on the factory floor

if he had gone in from day one and said

you know i heard there's the n word here

if you say the n word we're gonna fire

you and then tesla follows up and fires

them

it stops there but that hasn't happened

and that's what's so infuriating is that

thousands of black workers have been

called the n-word subjected to all kinds

of racist taunts um and uh retaliation

as you pointed out in the dfeh complaint

um and and nothing is done to stop it so

uh very very disappointing

and you know jason there's like there's

a bit of this sort of tech bro culture

thing that i think is happening here too

so just some of it to go very quickly um

tesla refused to attend mediation at one

point when dfeh wanted them to attend um

they were like no we're not gonna do it

um the the the same department found

that black workers were being taunted as

we just heard um and then when they

complained they were said well they're

aggressive they're threatening they

would get in trouble they would be

accused of coming in late and saying oh

we're gonna you know use that to sort of

deny you opportunity i mean literally it

seems that

the culture inside of tesla was suck it

up and if you say anything we're gonna

retaliate against you and here's the

other thing joy it's like tesla elon

musk has this image of himself he's like

i'm the real tony stark no he's more

he's more doctor doom right he's he's

more vicious and mean and bullying

because here's the thing you hear about

this with tesla do you think somebody

could get away with this at ford do you

think somebody could get away with it to

honda no the people who are there know i

can act the fool in this particular

environment and when it goes up the

ladder nothing is going to happen to me

some of these complaints are ridiculous

i mean for someone to have swastikas and

kkk in a break room and it takes months

for it to be scrubbed down allegedly for

someone to be called the n word multiple

times so much that they can count you

don't say i got called the n word 60

times if you are counting past 23 or 24

so all of this really falls into his lap

and he has made it clear that as much as

he wants to present himself as this cool

guy he is perfectly comfortable with the

hostile work environment you know and

then now they're moving to texas uh mr

oregon so talk about that because you

know i guess it could be seen by some as

an attempt to escape accountability by

getting out of the state of california

where he is facing this pretty

aggressive lawsuit to what he might

believes is a more permissive

environment what are your thoughts on

that

well you know owen's case uh

was brought under

the civil rights act of 1866 so

he may run to texas but he can't hide

from the federal statute that found him

guilty here so

i think that jurors in texas are not

going to be sympathetic to

musk's bs and hopefully they will stand

up to any kind of racism there but i do

think that the timing is uh sort of

ironic three days after mr diaz got his

137 million dollar verdict he moves away

to texas

uh yeah kind of chicken if you ask me

it could be a tesla's response by the

way to the class action lawsuit back in

2017 attacking you it said at tesla we

would rather pay 10 times the settlement

demand in legal fees and fight to the

ends of the earth than give in to

extortion and allow this abuse of the

legal system that was their response to

you mr oregon your thoughts

well uh i'd rather be called an

extortionist by elon musk for standing

up for african-american workers uh then

maybe anything else i wear that as a

badge of honor so uh bring it on elon no

one here is scared of you

you know me and my co-counsel brian

schwartz we're all we're fighting you in

that class action

um and uh you know uh my other uh my

co-counsel in the diaz trial he filed

another case against uh elon

um so bernard alexander is his name so

you know

yeah we're not scared and

it's kind of it's yeah i know it's it's

uh it's a sad thing

but yeah i think because he has so much

money and because tesla is such a

wealthy company they think they they're

above the law

and uh the one great thing about america

is the jury system

uh as our founders um uh decided is a

check on power and this is a check on uh

elon musk

and and quickly jason because we are in

this culture where

states like florida are trying to do

these anti-woke act things which would

literally prohibit a company like tesla

from even trying to fix it because this

idea is that the problem is people

complaining about racism not racism

right exactly that you know i i'm struck

joy honestly by like do you know how

much the abuse has to be for a door

person get 137 million dollars like 137

people like what is this is this calvin

candiolytic forcing black people to

fight like how gross environment this is

but it is something to be concerned

about when you have these states that

basically want to become safe havens for

racism right right they're going to say

oh we're attractive not just a business

because of low taxes but also we won't

tax you for bigotry we won't talk to you

we haven't even talked about the sexism

issues that they've also had at tesla so

that is something that should be a

concern he should not be able to

basically state hop in order to engage

in a kind of abuse alleged abuse that

this company's been engaging yeah and

unfortunately as you said there are

states that are trying to set themselves

up

aka free state of florida and saying

bring that here we okay with that here

and that is sad because there are people

there who deserve to be treated better

as well larry organ jason johnson thank

you both very much

[Music]

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