An open letter written by eight employees of Elon Musk’s defense contractor, SpaceX, has led to a complaint filed by the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The letter, which criticized Musk’s behavior and accused the company of selectively allowing sexual harassment, was initially circulated internally at SpaceX. It detailed the employees’ concerns about Musk’s behavior in the public sphere, divisive social media posts, and alleged sexual misconduct. The NLRB complaint alleges that SpaceX illegally fired these employees for engaging in protected speech.
The open letter by the SpaceX employees was prompted by a report from Business Insider, which claimed that Musk had propositioned and exposed himself to a flight attendant in 2016. This incident resulted in a sexual harassment claim against Musk, which was reportedly settled for $250,000 in 2018. However, Musk has denied these allegations, dismissing them as “wild accusations.” SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell also defended Musk against claims of sexual harassment.
In response to the open letter, the NLRB found evidence of coercion and interrogation by SpaceX management. The authors of the letter were allegedly subjected to coercive statements, including being “invited” to quit if they disagreed with Musk’s behavior. The NLRB complaint asserts that SpaceX unlawfully terminated these employees for engaging in protected speech.
Despite Elon Musk positioning himself as a free speech advocate, his companies have been accused of suppressing critical speech directed towards him or his businesses. For instance, under his ownership, the social network X (previously known as Twitter) has suspended accounts of users who shared records or made critical remarks about Musk and his companies. This repeated suppression of critical speech raises questions about Musk’s commitment to free speech principles.
The group of fired SpaceX employees has not only filed a complaint with the NLRB but has also lodged a formal complaint with the California Civil Rights Department. They allege a failure to address sexual harassment at SpaceX, further escalating the legal challenges faced by the company.
In response to these complaints, SpaceX has remained silent, declining to comment on the allegations. The California Civil Rights Department also has yet to issue a statement regarding the matter.
The NLRB, meanwhile, has taken action by issuing a consolidated complaint against SpaceX. After investigating the allegations made by the former employees, the NLRB regional office aims to facilitate a settlement between SpaceX and the terminated employees. If a settlement is not reached, a hearing before an NLRB administrative law judge is scheduled for March 5 in Los Angeles. It is worth noting that the judge’s decision is not final and can be appealed to the NLRB board and federal appeals court.
The NLRB complaint against SpaceX casts a shadow on Elon Musk’s defense contractor, accusing the company of illegally firing employees who spoke out against his behavior and voiced concerns about sexual harassment. The open letter, which called attention to Musk’s actions and their impact on the workplace, highlights a clash between his self-proclaimed advocacy for free speech and the alleged suppression of critical voices within his own companies. As the legal proceedings unfold, SpaceX will face scrutiny regarding its handling of workplace concerns and allegations of sexual harassment, potentially impacting its reputation and future.