Tesla to Reopen Closed Auto Site in Fremont; but will it be a Union Plant?

In early January of this year, activist group the Raging Grannies protested outside Tesla's tony showroom in Menlo Park, California. Their beef? They wanted Tesla to do the right thing, and go with a business plan that made sense for workers.

The Grannies, all women old enough to be grandmothers, chanted "Why Not Nummi?" and sang about the need to employ the formerly unionized workers who were let go when General Motors declared bankruptcy.

In a statement today, Raging Granny Barbara Baxter-Berman said that she is pleased that Tesla has chosen the site in San Francisco's East Bay over the southern California site. "The right thing to do is to engage the workers who were let go. The site in Downey had a questionable record as far as worker safety goes. Many workers at Downey Studios, and even at the Kaiser Hospital built in Downey, have become ill in disproportionate numbers compared to the number who would have gotten sick on a non-toxic site."

Granny Gail Sredanovic added that it remains to be seen if Tesla will treat workers fairly, allowing them to unionize, at the Fremont site. "But if choosing the NUMMI site over Downey is any indication, there is perhaps hope that Tesla will consider giving workers a fair deal" she said.

The Grannies went on to say that they are calling on Tesla to make sure the workers are paid the same wages and benefits as the former workers. They hope Tesla will hire the skilled workers who have lost their jobs due to the closure. They stated that they will continue to support the injured Downey workers and community members who are fighting for their healthcare and justice from the toxic dump site owned by Stuart Lichter.

In a video of the Raging Granny protest made on January 9 this year, the Grannies stated their concern that business decisions are often based solely on profit motive and greed. One Granny warned that if Tesla doesn't make good decisions, "We will be back again and again and again."

For video of the Grannies' protest and more about the Downey situation see previous indybay coverage here:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/01/12/18635025.php