
‘Welcome to the slave house.’ Tesla settles Black worker’s lawsuit alleging pervasive harassment
CNN
Tesla has settled a racial discrimination lawsuit by a Black female employee who claimed a manager at its Fremont, California, plant sometimes greeted workers by saying “welcome to the plantation” or “welcome to the slave house.”
Tesla has settled a racial discrimination lawsuit by a Black female employee who claimed a manager at its Fremont, California, plant sometimes greeted workers by saying “welcome to the plantation” or “welcome to the slave house.” Raina Pierce, who installed latches on car doors, and the automaker led by billionaire Elon Musk agreed to a settlement proposed by a mediator, according to a joint filing Thursday in San Francisco federal court. Terms were not disclosed, and both sides are finalizing a settlement agreement, the filing said. Lawyers for Pierce and Tesla (TSLA) did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Musk is not a defendant. Pierce said she was subjected to pervasive harassment, including a common racial slur she said was scrawled throughout the plant including in bathrooms, and a gender-based insult. She also said she was yelled at or disciplined for conduct for which non-Black workers were excused.