BUFFALO, N.Y. — We reported last week that the Cuomo Administration had not released a report about employment at the Tesla Plant in South Buffalo, after requests from our partners at Investigative Post.
However, on Saturday, in response to a request filed under the Freedom of Information Law, 2 On Your Side received the jobs report, which Tesla is required to file by May 31 of each year.
The documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Law request with Empire State Development claim, "As of May 28, 2021, Tesla's New York State headcount now stands at 1,665 including the current GFNY [Gigafactory New York] headcount in Buffalo of 1,058."
Right now, that is nearly 500 jobs short of the company's pledge.
However, Tesla does have until December 31 to meet its goal, after being granted an extension due to hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Failure to meet that target could result in a penalty of over $40 million.
The company noted in its letter to Empire State Development and Fort Schuyler Management Corporation, "Like almost all manufacturers, Tesla has been impacted across all its business operations by the pandemic."
The letter stated that those conditions temporarily delayed Tesla's ability to meet its expected employment levels at its factory in South Buffalo.
However, it went onto say, "Despite these headwinds, Tesla has been steadily ramping back up GFNY and expanding and diversifying the facility's operations."
The letter ended by pointing out that Tesla does anticipate it will continue to recover and expects it will 'meet and exceed' all of its year two requirements by the end of 2021.
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