The US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has accused SpaceX of unlawfully firing eight employees who circulated a letter calling CEO Elon Musk a 'distraction and embarrassment'. The complaint, issued by a regional NLRB official, alleges that the company violated federal labour law by retaliating against workers who sought to advocate for better working conditions.
The letter, sent to SpaceX executives in June 2022, focused on a series of sexually suggestive tweets Musk had made since 2020. The employees argued that Musk's statements contradicted the company's policies on diversity and workplace misconduct, and called on SpaceX to condemn them.
According to Kayla Blado, an NLRB spokesperson, the complaint also accuses SpaceX of interrogating employees about the letter, disparaging those involved, and threatening to fire workers who engaged in similar activity. SpaceX and the workers' lawyers have not yet responded to requests for comment.
If the case is not settled, it will be heard by an administrative judge on 5 March, with potential appeals to the NLRB board and federal courts. If found in violation, SpaceX could be ordered to reinstate the workers with back pay and face steeper penalties in future cases.
