A US labour agency has accused Elon Musk-led rocket company
SpaceX
of unlawfully firing employees who criticised its CEO
Elon Musk
. According to a report by the news agency AP, the National Labor Relations Board (
NLRB
) has filed a complaint against SpaceX, accusing the company of wrongfully terminating employees who wrote an open letter expressing concerns about the billionaire.
The complaint also alleges that SpaceX created an atmosphere of surveillance, making workers feel that their activities were being monitored. The complaint consolidates eight charges of unfair labour practices against SpaceX, with the incidents stemming from the circulation of the employees' letter in June 2022.
What the letter from SpaceX employees said about Elon Musk
The letter addressed various workplace issues and called on executives to condemn Musk's behaviour on the then-known platform as Twitter. It also highlighted Musk's dismissal of sexual harassment allegations against him, which he denied.
The open letter emphasised that Musk's actions reflected on SpaceX as he is seen as the face of the company. It described his behaviour as a frequent source of distraction and embarrassment. Following the letter, nine employees were reportedly terminated, as mentioned in a November 2022 filing made on behalf of one of the employees to the NLRB.
Other complaints against Tesla brought forward by NLRB
In addition to the firings, the NLRB complaint accuses SpaceX of interrogating other employees about their involvement in the letter. The company allegedly announced that employees were terminated due to their participation and even encouraged those who disagreed with Musk's behaviour to quit.
Furthermore, the complaint claims that some workers were shown screenshots of communications regarding the letter, creating a perception of surveillance over their protected concerted activities.
The company has until mid-January to provide a response to the complaint. The filing marks the NLRB's initial step towards addressing these allegations and pursuing a resolution. If a settlement cannot be reached, a hearing is scheduled to begin on March 5 in Los Angeles, US.
English (US) ·