1/ So before yesterday's investigation came out, @tesla released a statement accusing us of being an “extremist organization” who’s “working directly with union supporters to create a calculated disinformation campaign.”
A LOT to unpack right there. So let’s do it.
A LOT to unpack right there. So let’s do it.
2/ First of all, there’s zero “disinformation” in this story.
The story is based on internal company documents, interviews with five former members of the Tesla safety team and dozens of other current and former employees ...
The story is based on internal company documents, interviews with five former members of the Tesla safety team and dozens of other current and former employees ...
3/ ... as well as medical records of injured workers, OSHA records, 911 calls and Tesla’s own injury logs.
4/ That information shows Tesla failed to report some of its serious injuries on legally mandated reports. This makes the company’s injury numbers look better than they actually are.
Case in point: Tarik Logan. Here’s what happened to him:
Case in point: Tarik Logan. Here’s what happened to him:
5/ Logan ended up getting diagnosed with an inhalation injury from the fumes. Tesla, by law, was required to log his injury because he was prescribed pain meds.
The company didn’t.
The company didn’t.
6/ How do we know this? We got his medical records. And the text messages he sent his mom.
7/ On to this accusation of “working directly with union supporters”: Our story was done completely independent of any unionization efforts. Some of the workers we talked to supported the union, but many had no involvement – including Tesla’s own former safety experts.
8/ On to those emails: Here’s one from Justine White, the factory’s safety lead, to Elon Musk’s chief of staff on 12/21/16.
“I know what can keep a person up at night regarding safety,” she wrote. “I must tell you that I can’t sleep here at Tesla.” documentcloud.org/documents/4416…
“I know what can keep a person up at night regarding safety,” she wrote. “I must tell you that I can’t sleep here at Tesla.” documentcloud.org/documents/4416…
9/ When White resigned, she warned that Musk’s preferences for the color yellow, and other aesthetic tastes, were creating an unsafe workplace.
10/ The reporters didn’t rely on just one source for these claims. They spoke with five former safety team members, and they all told the same fundamental concerns.
11/ In its statement, Tesla complained about us visiting employees at their homes unannounced.
We didn’t do that, though we do have to do it for some stories.
We didn’t do that, though we do have to do it for some stories.
12/ They also complained about us getting in touch with employees on social media.
That’s what fair reporters do. They go try to talk to as many people as possible to understand the true story.
That’s what fair reporters do. They go try to talk to as many people as possible to understand the true story.
13/ Back to the “extremist organization” diss: We are extreme about rigorous reporting. We are extreme about facts and the truth. We are extreme about holding powerful people accountable, especially when their actions harm others.
14/ We’re so extreme that we were just named a Pulitzer finalist yesterday. poynter.org/news/here-are-…
15/ So @Tesla, if that’s what you mean by an “extremist organization,” then yes, we agree.
