SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is currently under investigation by the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for allegedly wrongfully terminating eight employees who circulated a letter criticizing Musk. The letter, circulated in June 2022, accused Musk of being a “distraction and embarrassment” due to some of his posts on Twitter, which were considered sexually suggestive and clashed with the company’s diversity and workplace ethics policies.
The NLRB’s regional official has charged SpaceX with violating the workers’ rights to join forces and advocate for better working conditions, a right protected by federal labor law. The complaint goes beyond the terminations, accusing SpaceX of subjecting employees to interrogations about the letter, disparaging those involved, and issuing threats of termination for similar activities.
If SpaceX chooses not to settle, the case will be heard by an administrative judge, with the hearing scheduled for March 5th. If the NLRB finds that the terminations violated labor law, it can order the reinstatement of the fired employees and grant them back pay. Additionally, if SpaceX is found in violation, it may face steeper penalties in future cases before the board.
SpaceX has not yet commented on the allegations. The outcome of this case could have implications for how the company handles employee expressions of criticism and dissent, as well as potential consequences for its workplace policies and practices.
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