A U.S. labor agency has recently lodged a complaint against SpaceX, alleging that the company unlawfully terminated employees who wrote an open letter expressing criticism towards CEO Elon Musk. Additionally, the complaint asserts that SpaceX created an atmosphere where workers felt surveilled.
On Wednesday, a regional director for the National Labor Relations Board based in Los Angeles consolidated eight charges of unfair labor practices against SpaceX. The incidents leading up to these charges occurred after the circulation of the open letter in June 2022.
The contents of the letter highlighted various concerns within the workplace and requested that company executives condemn Musk's public behavior on the social media platform known as Twitter during that time. Additionally, the employees called for accountability for unacceptable conduct within the company. Musk had been accused of sexual harassment, which he vehemently denied.
The letter, recognizing Elon Musk as the prominent figure representing SpaceX, emphasized that his tweets were effectively public statements by the company itself. Furthermore, it described Musk's actions as a "frequent source of distraction and embarrassment."
This labor complaint underscores the ongoing tensions between SpaceX and its workforce, shedding light on allegations of employee mistreatment and an overarching sense of discomfort.
SpaceX Faces Accusations of Unfair Dismissal and Employee Interrogation
In a recent development, it has been revealed that SpaceX terminated a total of nine employees due to their involvement in a letter, as stated in a November 2022 filing submitted to the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board). It is important to note that only eight of these employees are included in the complaint filed on Wednesday.
Apart from the terminations, the complaint also alleges that SpaceX questioned other workers regarding the letter and publicly announced that employees were fired for their participation in it. Furthermore, the company reportedly invited employees to resign if they disagreed with the conduct of CEO Elon Musk.
Additionally, the complaint claims that certain employees were shown screen recordings of conversations among colleagues discussing the letter. This action created a sense of apprehension among SpaceX employees, leading them to believe that their protected and concerted activities were being monitored.
As of now, SpaceX has not provided any official response to the requests for comment from The Associated Press. However, according to Wednesday's filing, the company has until mid-January to respond to the complaint. This marks the initial step taken by the NLRB in addressing and potentially resolving these allegations. In the event that a settlement cannot be reached, a hearing has been scheduled to commence on March 5 in Los Angeles.
