Opening Arguments

OA857: Can Elon Musk Blow Up Your Right To Join A Union?

Jan 17, 2024

01:08:37

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Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, discusses collective bargaining and the future of unions. The podcast also covers the ongoing trial involving E. Jean Carroll and Trump, Musk's influence on Twitter, workplace safety violations at Tesla, the valuation of SpaceX, and the National Labor Relations Act.

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Quick takeaways

SpaceX employees were terminated for criticizing Elon Musk's tweets, leading to a year-long investigation and a hearing for retaliatory termination.

The National Labor Relations Board has the power to protect employees' collective bargaining rights through injunctive relief.

Elon Musk's lawsuit against the NLRB is seen as part of a trend of wealthy individuals misusing the legal system.

Deep dives

Retaliatory Termination of Employees

Several SpaceX employees were terminated after circulating an open letter criticizing Elon Musk's tweets and calling for the no asshole policy and zero tolerance policy to apply to upper management. The company allegedly fired the employees and engaged in retaliation and intimidation tactics, including coercive statements and interrogations. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) concluded after a year-long investigation that there was sufficient evidence of wrongful retaliatory termination. The cases have been consolidated, and a hearing before an administrative law judge is set for March 5th, 2024.

Introduction

2min

Update on Second Trial of E. Jean Carroll against Trump

18min

Trump's Potential Testimony and Navarro's Legal Actions

7min

Elon Musk's Influence on Twitter

8min

Workplace Safety Violations and Union Opposition at Tesla

2min

Valuation of SpaceX and Government Contracts

14min

The National Labor Relations Act and SpaceX

15min

Trump's Limited Options and the Importance of Naming and Shaming

2min

After a roundup including the first day of the E. Jean Carroll trial, Liz and Andrew break down the latest SpaceX lawsuit and discuss what it might mean for the future of collective bargaining.

Notes Nathan J. Robinson, researcher, Current Affairs, “Surely We Can Do Better Than Elon Musk,” April 7, 2021 https://www.currentaffairs.org/2021/04/surely-we-can-do-better-than-elon-musk

S. Derek Turner, “Broadband Boondoggle: Ajit Pai's $886M Gift to Elon Musk,” Free Press, December 14, 2020 https://www.freepress.net/our-response/expert-analysis/insights-opinions/broadband-boondoggle-ajit-pais-886m-gift-elon-musk

NLRB proceedings against SpaceX https://www.nlrb.gov/case/31-CA-307446

NLRA, 29 U.S.C. § 151 et seq.https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/29/chapter-7/subchapter-II

NLRB damages chart https://www.nlrb.gov/reports/nlrb-case-activity-reports/unfair-labor-practice-cases/remedies-achieved/monetary-remedies

SpaceX v. NLRB docket https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68136196/space-exploration-technologies-corp-v-national-labor-relations-board/Paragraph

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