Tesla hit by new lawsuit alleging racial abuse against Black workers

The workers said they were subjected to offensive racist comments and behavior by colleagues, managers, and human resources employees on a regular basis

Fifteen Black former or current employees at Tesla (TSLA.O) filed a lawsuit against the electric car maker on Thursday, alleging they were subjected to racial abuse and harassment at its factories, Qazet.az reports.

The workers said they were subjected to offensive racist comments and behavior by colleagues, managers, and human resources employees on a regular basis, according to the lawsuit filed in a California state court.

The harassment, which occurred mostly at Tesla's Fremont, California factory, included using the terms "nigger", "slavery" or "plantation" or making sexual comments such as "likes booty," the lawsuit said, adding that the automaker's "standard operating procedures include blatant, open and unmitigated race discrimination".

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