SpaceX illegally fired workers for criticizing Musk and company culture, complaint claims

SpaceX illegally fired nine people earlier this year in retaliation for comments critical of founder Elon Musk and the company’s culture, a former employee alleged in a complaint with federal regulators.

The terminated SpaceX workers include authors of an open letter protesting “inappropriate, disparaging, sexually charged comments on Twitter” by Musk, according to the Wednesday filing with the National Labor Relations Board.

The complaint says the workers were fired “for engaging in the core concerted protected activity of speaking up against SpaceX’s failure and refusal to address the culture of sexism, harassment and discrimination.”