The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is advancing with a formal complaint against SpaceX, filed by eight former employees who allege they were wrongfully terminated for circulating an open letter within the company. The complaint, issued on January 3, consolidates eight individual cases brought forth by employees who claim their dismissal was in violation of the National Labor Relations Act.
The genesis of the complaint traces back to June 2022 when an open letter circulated on SpaceX's internal computer system. The letter urged SpaceX to distance itself from the social media activities of its CEO, Elon Musk, citing his behavior as a “frequent source of distraction and embarrassment.” It called for a clear separation from Musk's personal brand and the establishment of unambiguous “zero tolerance” policies for unacceptable behavior, alleging unequal enforcement.
Following the release of the open letter, SpaceX terminated some employees immediately, with others facing dismissal in the subsequent weeks. The NLRB complaint alleges that SpaceX officials, whose identities are redacted, impliedly suggested employees quit if they wished to engage in protected concerted activities and hinted at discharge if discussions about the letter continued.
The NLRB contends that SpaceX interfered with employees' rights under the National Labor Relations Act, creating an environment that restrained and coerced employees. The proposed remedies include managerial training on the act and issuing letters of apology to the terminated employees. While the complaint does not specify monetary damages, it seeks “all other relief as may be just and proper to remedy the unfair labor practices alleged.”
SpaceX has not yet commented on the complaint, with a deadline of January 17 to file a formal response with the NLRB. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for March 5, with an encouragement for settlement efforts before the hearing date.
Despite the open letter's request for SpaceX to distance itself from Elon Musk's social media activities, the company seems to have moved in the opposite direction. Particularly noteworthy is Musk's acquisition of Twitter in October 2022, subsequently renaming it X. SpaceX has consolidated its social media activities and livestreams of launches on X.
Coinciding with the NLRB complaint, Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX, made her inaugural post on X, highlighting the company's accomplishments in the early days of 2024, including satellite launches and the growth of Starlink customers in 2023.
