The crux of the matter lies in the open letter written by laid-off employees in mid-2022. Expressing concern about Musk’s “harmful behavior on Twitter,” particularly his crude jokes, the letter called on SpaceX management to take responsibility and condemn such actions.
Instead of engaging in open dialogue, SpaceX allegedly responded with swift retaliation. President Gwynne Shotwell reportedly scolded staff and asked them to stop distributing the letter. Five employees were laid off in one day, and three more employees were laid off in the following months.
Now the NLRB accuses SpaceX of unfair labor practices by violating employees’ right to “engage in protected concerted activities while at work.” The complaint details allegations of interrogation and surveillance.
“At SpaceX, rockets may be reusable, but the people who build them are treated as expendable,” Paige Holland-Thielen, one of the fired employees, told The New York Times. “I hope these allegations hold SpaceX and its leadership accountable.”
An administrative hearing in the case is scheduled for March, but pre-trial settlement remains possible.
Source: Ferra
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