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
Lebih 120 mayat rakyat Palestin dijumpai dua hari selepas tentera Israel tinggalkan kem Jabalia
Lebih daripada 120 mayat rakyat Palestin telah dijumpai daripada runtuhan, dua hari selepas tentera Israel meninggalkan Kem Jabalia di utara Semenanjung Gaza, lapor Agensi Anadolu (AA).
Zulkifli sempat hantar isyarat kecemasan kepada keluarga
Allahyarham Zulkifli sempat menghantar isyarat kecemasan ketika terkandas di kawasan berhampiran puncak Gunung Denali.
AWANI Ringkas: Telefon bimbit dirampas untuk siasatan
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi
Kisah doktor TH: Wukuf 'Safari' di Arafah, ala medan tempur pula di Muzdalifah
Di celah-celah kisah haji dan falsafah pengorbanan serta penyucian jiwa, ada jasa yang cukup besar dilakukan manusia kepada manusia lain tetapi jarang diangkat setinggi darjatnya.
Lelaki warga China lemas jatuh dari tongkang besi
Seorang pekerja warga China ditemukan lemas selepas terjatuh dari tongkang besi ketika menjalankan kerja-kerja di laut dalam kejadian di perairan berhampiran Pulau Tikus, di sini hari ini.
AWANI 7:45 [02/06/2024] – Bakal Pilihan Raya Kecil? | Kajian tempoh lima tahun | Tangkapan bantu siasatan | Termasuk pelbagai inisiatif TVET
Laporan berita padat dan ringkas #AWANI745 bersama Dzulfitri Yusof
Tumpuan #AWANI745 malam ini:
- Enam Ahli Parlimen dan seorang Adun Bersatu gugur ahli, hilang kerusi
- Remaja hisap vape meningkat mendadak kepada 14.9 peratus
- Tiada tangkapan terbaru, siasatan tumpu ibu bapa Zayn Rayyan
- 12 kementerian terbabit TVET, tiada alasan untuk gagal
Saksikan #AWANI745 di saluran 501 Astro AWANI, Astro AWANI apps dan astroawani.com/live-tv
Tumpuan #AWANI745 malam ini:
- Enam Ahli Parlimen dan seorang Adun Bersatu gugur ahli, hilang kerusi
- Remaja hisap vape meningkat mendadak kepada 14.9 peratus
- Tiada tangkapan terbaru, siasatan tumpu ibu bapa Zayn Rayyan
- 12 kementerian terbabit TVET, tiada alasan untuk gagal
Saksikan #AWANI745 di saluran 501 Astro AWANI, Astro AWANI apps dan astroawani.com/live-tv
AWANI Ringkas: Sungai Kandis bertukar biru bukan punca dari kilang - JAS
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
PRK Sungai Bakap: AMK harap orang muda dipilih jadi calon
AMK akan mencadangkan beberapa nama calon berpotensi yang dapat mewakili suara golongan muda dalam PRK DUN Sungai Bakap akan datang.
Kemalangan di Gua Musang: Suami isteri maut, dua anak cedera
Seorang anggota tentera bersama isteri maut manakala dua anak mereka cedera dalam kemalangan di Kilometer 43 Jalan Gua Musang-Lojing hari ini.
Rotasing! Apa lagi yang peserta bakal tonjolkan
Sudah tiga minggu berlangsung peserta The Hardest Singing Show (THSS) benar-benar memberikan kreativiti terbaik bagi menyahut setiap cabaran yang diberikan.
Namun apakah tema untuk minggu ini?
Rakan setugas Asyraf sudah sedia untuk membawakan laporan mingguan THSS.
Namun apakah tema untuk minggu ini?
Rakan setugas Asyraf sudah sedia untuk membawakan laporan mingguan THSS.
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.