SpaceX will be smacked with allegations of sexism and retaliatory firings before a U.S. labor board judge Tuesday.
The hearing is part of a lawsuit brought by eight former SpaceX engineers who have accused the rocket maker of axing them after they circulated a letter criticizing CEO Elon Musk.
The letter, which the engineers sent in 2022, accused Mr. Musk of sexist conduct and said SpaceX engaged in discrimination against women. According to the National Labor Relations Board’s general counsel, who represents the engineers, the engineers were fired right after the letter was circulated at the company.
If the company did fire the workers over the letter, it would violate the National Labor Relations Act, which gives employees the right to organize for better working conditions.
And the judge could order the company to reinstate the engineers and provide them with back pay and benefits.
SpaceX could then appeal the court’s decision to the five-member NLRB. The labor judge for Tuesday’s hearing is not on the board.
The company has denied any wrongdoing and filed an official complaint against the NLRB, saying its organizational structure violates the firm’s right to a trial by jury. Space X previously sought to delay Tuesday’s hearing while its complaint against the board was processed. The NLRB rejected the company’s attempts.
This is not the first time SpaceX has been put in a troubling spot. In 2018, the company paid about $250,000 to settle allegations that Mr. Musk sexually harassed a flight attendant on one of the company’s private jets. He denied the accusations.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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