Rocket and satellite maker SpaceX on Wednesday was accused by a U.S. labor agency of unlawfully firing eight employees for circulating a letter calling founder and CEO Elon Musk a "distraction and embarrassment."
A regional official with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a complaint claiming SpaceX violated the workers' rights under federal labor law to band together and advocate for better working conditions.
The letter sent to SpaceX executives in June 2022 focused on a series of tweets Musk had made since 2020, many of which were sexually suggestive. The employees claimed Musk's statements did not align with the company's policies on diversity and workplace misconduct, and called on SpaceX to condemn them.
The complaint also accuses SpaceX of interrogating employees about the letter, disparaging the workers who were involved, and threatening to fire workers who engaged in similar activity.
SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
SpaceX has a "toxic culture" where harassment is tolerated, particularly against women, Deborah Lawrence, one of the employees who was fired, said in a statement provided by her lawyers.
"We wrote the open letter to leadership not out of malice, but because we cared about the mission and the people around us," Lawrence said.
The NLRB's general counsel acts like a prosecutor and brings cases to the five-member board appointed by the president.
If SpaceX does not settle, the case will be heard by an administrative judge, whose decision can be appealed to the board and then to a federal appeals court. A hearing is scheduled for March 5.
When the NLRB finds that firings violated labor law, it can order that workers be reinstated and given back pay. If SpaceX is found to have violated the law, it could also face steeper penalties in future cases before the board.
The case is the latest to accuse companies run by Musk of violating employees' rights under labor and employment laws.
Reuters in November documented at least 600 previously unreported workplace injuries at SpaceX facilities, including crushed limbs, electrocution, head injuries and one death. SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment on the findings.
In October, the NLRB issued a complaint accusing X, the Musk-owned social media service formerly known as Twitter, of illegally firing an employee over tweets challenging the company's return-to-office policy. X has denied wrongdoing.
And electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc, where Musk is CEO, has faced several NLRB complaints amid a union organizing campaign and numerous lawsuits alleging widespread race discrimination at its factories. Tesla has said it does not tolerate discrimination.
Reuters
Thu Jan 04 2024
NLRB issued a complaint claiming SpaceX violated the workers' rights under federal labor law to band together and advocate for better working conditions. - REUTERS/Filepic
Bayi masih bertali pusat ditemui dalam kotak berhampiran Gua Tempurung
Seorang bayi perempuan baru dilahirkan ditemui berbalut dengan kain batik dalam kotak di atas jalan berhampiran Gua Tempurung di sini pada Ahad.
AWANI Ringkas: Forum Ekonomi Qatar
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Julina dilantik Ketua Pengarah JaPen baharu
Julina Johan dilantik sebagai Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia (JaPen) yang baharu berkuat kuasa hari ini.
Imigresen tumpas sindiket ubah suai pasport 'Ofu Bhai'
Jabatan Imigresen menumpaskan sindiket "Ofu Bhai" yang aktif menjalankan kegiatan pemalsuan dan pengubahsuaian pasport tulen sejak dua tahun lepas.
Putin lantik penasihat ekonomi sebagai Menteri Pertahanan
Presiden Russia, Vladimir Putin menggugurkan Menteri Pertahanan, Sergei Shoigu dalam rombakan Kabinetnya yang sekali gus menyaksikan perubahan besar kepemimpinan tentera selepas lebih dua tahun berlangsung perang Ukraine.
Mesir akan campur tangan kes ICJ Afrika Selatan terhadap Israel
Tindakan itu menyerlahkan ketegangan semakin meningkat antara kedua-dua negara jiran itu ketika operasi Israel di bandar sempadan Rafah menguji perjanjian jangka panjang dan kerjasama keselamatan.
Lelaki maut dipijak gajah di Gua Musang
Dalam kejadian jam 5 petang itu, mangsa berusia 29 tahun maut di lokasi akibat kecederaan parah.
Malaysia negara ketujuh disinggah kapal TCG Kinaliada F514
Malaysia merupakan negara ketujuh persinggahan kapal perang TCG Kinaliada F514 milik Republik Turki pada Isnin.
Kekalahan 'hadiah' terakhir Mbappe
Mbappe telah menjaringkan 256 gol untuk PSG sejak tiba dari Monaco pada 2017 dalam perjanjian bernilai $194 juta (RM918 juta).
Ops rempit besar-besaran Pulau Pinang sita 79 motosikal
Sebuah Ops rempit, pencegahan lumba haram dan samseng jalanan dijalankan besar-besaran di Pulau Pinang berjaya menyita 79 buah motosikal.
SpaceX milik Elon Musk bina rangkaian satelit pengintip untuk agensi perisikan AS, lapor Reuters
Program itu dapat mengesan dengan cepat sasaran berpotensi hampir di mana-mana sahaja di dunia.
Percubaan ketiga Starship ke angkasa berjaya
Percubaan ketiga SpaceX untuk melancarkan kapal angkasa Starship ke angkasa berjaya dilakukan malam semalam.
Falcon 9 lengkapkan misi ke-300, lancar satelit komunikasi Indonesia ke orbit - SpaceX
Satelit itu dilancarkan dari Kompleks Pelancaran Angkasa 40 (SLC-40) di Stesen Angkatan Angkasa Cape Canaveral di Florida.
Pentagon zahir hasrat beli Starship untuk kegunaan misi sensitif
SpaceX mengesahkan mereka telah dihubungi oleh pihak Pentagon.
Starlink lancar satelit sokong rangkaian selular
Teknologi ini turut membolehkan rangkaian selular satelit dinikmati ketika berada di tengah-tengah laut.
Ujian kedua sistem roket Starship mungkin pada 17 Nov - Elon Musk
Pengasas SpaceX Elon Musk berkata ujian kedua sistem roket Starship mungkin akan dijalankan pada 17 Nov.
Kapal angkasa Starship sedia dilancarkan, menunggu kelulusan FAA - Elon Musk
SpaceX sedang menunggu kelulusan Pentadbiran Penerbangan Persekutuan (FAA) AS untuk melancarkan satu lagi kapal angkasa Starship.
Kerajaan AS saman SpaceX, dakwa diskriminasi pengambilan pekerja
SpaceX milik Elon Musk mendiskriminasi pencari suaka dan pelarian dengan menghalang mereka daripada memohon pekerjaan.
SpaceX tangguh pelancaran satelit Falcon 9 dengan Starlink kerana Taufan Hilary
SpaceX berkata pelancaran kenderaan pelancar Falcon 9 yang membawa satelit Starlink pada Jumaat ditangguhkan kerana kekuatan Taufan Hilary yang semakin meningkat di Lautan Pasifik.
SpaceX lancar 22 satelit Starlink tambahan ke orbit
SpaceX berjaya melancarkan roket Falcon 9 dengan satu lagi muatan satelit Starlink ke angkasa lepas dari Florida lewat Ahad.