SpaceX, an space transportation and aerospace firm is under investigation for allegedly forcibly terminating eight employees who voiced disapproval of the multibillionaire CEO.
The employees expressed their concerns about the workplace in an open letter to the company’s executives in 2022, according to a complaint filed by a US labor agency.
They called Musk a “distraction and embarrassment,” as Reuters reported. SpaceX is accused of breaking federal labor law, which permits workers to collectively lobby for better working conditions.
A regional officer of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). also claims that people who worked on writing the open letter were questioned before they were let go.
Deborah Lawrence, one of the former employees, has claimed that SpaceX fosters a “toxic culture” where harassment is tolerated. Lawyers representing Lawrence argue that the company’s actions are in violation of labour laws.
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In a statement seen by Reuters, Lawrence said, “We wrote the open letter to leadership not out of malice, but because we cared about the mission and the people around us.”
SpaceX has not yet commented on the allegations.
The NLRB’s general counsel acts as a prosecutor and presents cases to the five-member board appointed by the organization’s president.
If SpaceX does not reach a settlement, the case will proceed to an administrative judge, and the decision can be appealed to the board and then to a federal appeals court. A hearing for this case is scheduled for March 5th.
If the NLRB determines that the firings violated labour law, it has the authority to order the reinstatement of the terminated workers and award back pay.
This is not the first time Elon Musk’s companies have faced accusations of violating employees’ rights.
In October, the NLRB accused X (formerly known as Twitter) of illegally firing an employee for tweets challenging the company’s return-to-office policy.
Tesla, Musk’s electric car company, has also dealt with NLRB complaints, including allegations of race discrimination at its factories.
In August, the US Department of Justice sued SpaceX, alleging discrimination against refugees and asylum seekers in its hiring practices.
Musk, in response, stated on X, “US law requires at least a green card to be hired at SpaceX, as rockets are considered advanced weapons technology.“
