SPRING HILL, Tenn. (WTVF) — Messages that were described as racist were graffitied on the walls of a men's restroom at the General Motors Spring Hill Manufacturing Facility on Monday.
The location of the restroom was described as being across from column J22 near the Ryder Battery Charging Area in General Assembly.
The messages were not released, but both General Motors and the UAW Local 1853 have condemned the action.
General Motors released a statement, saying whoever is found responsible for the message would be fired.
We have zero-tolerance for racist or discriminatory behavior, and we are outraged that any of our employees would be subjected to harassment. It’s unacceptable and we are going to drive it out of the workplace. We are investigating and will fire the person or persons responsible.
UAW Local 1853 Chairman Mike Herron made the following statement on Facebook:
Today, it was brought to my attention that there was racially charged graffiti found written on the walls in the men's restroom across from column J22. This bathroom is near the Ryder Battery Charging Area in General Assembly. ( I have pictures but opted not to post them because that would just spread the hate.)
THIS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AT SPRING HILL MANUFACTURING by the Union or Management!
Whoever did this needs to understand that not only is it morally and ethically wrong to promote racism----But GM will fire you immediately if you are responsible for this. I have repeatedly written posts asking our membership to honor our diversity and the differences that every worker brings to the workplace. Diversity should be our strength as our teams are stronger not weaker as a result of our differences. Understand that we are all God's Children. We need to show LOVE and RESPECT for one another NOT HATE and RACIST COMMENTS.
Paragraph 6A of the 2019 UAW-GM Collective Bargaining Agreement clearly stipulates that no employee will be discriminated against based on their age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity expression. Federal and State Laws prohibit the type of racial comments that were found on the bathroom walls. This is not funny and believe me no one believes that these writings are somehow a joke! There is discussions going on with Detroit pursuant to this and believe me when I say this is being addressed at the highest levels of this plant and with GM and the UAW.
"No one is born hating another person because of the color of their skin, or their background, or their religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate---They can learn can be taught to LOVE." ----- Nelson Mandela
